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DOINGS AT PORT SHAW.An Indian Industrial School Training and Civilizing the Youth or the Montana Tribes.There Are Now 2:i» Pupil- Cnder the Supervision Ot Hr. Winn-low.Twenty-four miles west of Great Falla i«* tlm iodustriid Indian eehool of Fort Shaw. deBtined in the futuro to be the principal civilizing element among the Indians in Montana.Fort Shaw was formerly a military reservation, but was abandoned by the war department a few years ago. In the early part of 1802 G. 11. Grinnell wrote Mr. Noble suggesting that the war department be requested not to auction otT these buildings and throw open the Fort Shaw reservation t» settlement, as ih usually done m such cases, but that the whole resorvati n should he turned over to toe interior department and used by the department lor tbo establishment of an Indian school. Among the many advantages of rich a course was economy, Fort Shaw « mg already provided with olflcera' quarters, barracks, shops, and stables, and with irrigating ditches all of wuicb could be adapted to the uses of tbo proposed school.Mr. N'oblo referred bio Icttor to tho commissioner of Indian affairs, and not long after he was notified that Gen. Morgan hail reported adversely to (be project. Nevertheless Mr. Grinnell continued to urge the carrying out of the plan, and being fortunate enough to en-list the sympathies of a number of poo-‘pie and associations of intivence the . school was at last established.Learning of tho success of his applied ; lion Mr. Grinnell wrote to a number of bis Indian friends at the Black foot agency, urging thorn to send their chil-dien and secure a good attendance. Tbo result was. some of tbo lea ting chiefs j spent weeks persuading their fellow i tribesmen to send their children, and j their success is proved when it is stated ! that out of 238 pupils, 120 belong to the Ulaekfoot tribe.i n December 27,1WP2. under the supervision of Dr. \V. li. Winslow, toe school was formally opened under the name of the Fori Shaw Indian Industrial school. Pupil. cm no from tho various tribes in Montuna Pieguns. Assinaboines, Yank ton moux. Northern Cheyennes. Grows, Gros Ventres and Pend d'Oreiliea. lie fore the end of the first year 17lt;J pupils wore enrolled, and at tiie present date, March lb, ls'.*», there is aa enrollment of22b.The plan of the school is to teach the pupils to take care of themselves, and with a view to such, as much time is given to work as to study. 1 L.ilf the pupils are in school in the morning, and ibe remaining naif in the afternoon, the balance of the day being occupied iu work by those not in school.J As to tho kinds of work done, the farm boys tend a largo garden, put up hay. and last summer in addition they built ten miles of fence. The carpenter boys have helped change buildings, make repairs, whitewashed anu painted rooms,_ and made tables, book cases, etc. The blacksmith boys assist in horseshoeing, repairing wagons, and are learning the trade in general. The shoemakers are mending and making shoes for the school. The tailor boys are mending and making the boys' clothing.The girls are doing all kinds of housework, cooking for the school and caring for the dining room. They also do the laundry woik and mend all the girls' clothing. They darn the boys socks and do crotchet and drawn work. A large number of them are learning to play on the organ, and the bi-ya have a band of thirteen pieces.1‘upiie iuv detailed to I ccitaiu work each month, and are ex.* .•:ed lo learn how to «lo ilitTerenl t . iugs, except in cases where they are learning particular trams, when they keep at one thing. All the buys are expected to .earn tho use of tools. Those having special aptness foi some trade are kept at that trade so as to make them skilled mechanics.In the school room*- they iearn to read, write, and speak Fnglish. Of course they take up other studies as they ad vunce. the aim being to make them competent to transact any business.The lirst thing for them to learn is how to make a living by work as do the while people. Supt. Winslow uud tin* school employes have great confidence I that they will do this with proper teaching ami inducement.The school is in no sense sectarian, j the school employes belonging to the u | nous Christian denominations. While j no sectarian doctrine is allowed there is '■ given a standing invitation to all nmiis-tore to epouk to tho eoh»ol. Sub bath school is held every Sunday morning, i the International Lessons being used, j 1 he Lord s prayer. Ten Gommandnients.■ Psalms, lt;i( d various texts arc learned by 1 the pupils, and they take delight in singing the gospel hyinnB,living, and then insist ou This in Ur t hi* done or else tothe state numb r mg aid.A v •« •:may expect • • •ji*' i ti ivr11- *vTll.UlMI • «Vi-. riirlgreatly |^1 fl l ** * *4 Nilger v rallyj*'. stilJVU.clean anddressed neat'vbeing si rialworkedschoolstt to*1. Iu.ake atheir .1oing it.in a f.w yearshave ■f tna !:igen *|UiiI.f Ti.i.b aw a •• nrdelid Was : which■ pupils ui»* \t their various , trades Iho boys are industrious and i anxious 1 learn. The workshops arc j spacious, at I «• .*iy finality is offered t j t he pupils, lit .■* Kco-io. the advaneo-. mi nt us compel ; with thoso of other i. - -'I., il ing surprising, the chil-] dieu l uvtug apt a'vi t!» an overwhelming l iicrire to advai.., - thvii studies, part of of t!t- being pr- liihlv due to ti i; isola-» 1 01 fig vlo: • Pllfl s: non. is )• 1 »r \\ iusl i'.v i- «ie*t-ous ig . nr: i citizens generally t th.-p. hoot and ohsr-i vM tho rogr-ss made. In fl is benevolent work *t. Winslow and I :s abb corps «f assistants will ha'lt; thlt; wf(i w ishes and hearty good will of all those wbo drain* lu pcc the uborigioul race placed on u ; self-supporting basis, and have installed«fl i fl iiir ttiindj fl ^ ii .'f'Jit.kfvtl fl rut lu rtfr;into their minds the graceful truths of Christianity.11 n ill Wlii'.it Mini 4r«-l l*olal»»*i.The Great Falls Produce company is prepared to furnisli Hard Fife Wheat, Soft Wheat. Oats, and Potatoes for seed
Newspaper Details
Great Falls Weekly Tribune
Great Falls, Montana, US
Fri, Mar 23, 1894
Page 7
Full Page
Clipped by
University O.
USA 10 Mar 2023
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