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Our Neglected American Indians

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 2, 1915

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 92, No. 59.

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Our Neglected American Indians

By T. E. Bowen

T. E. BOWEN
It is fully demonstrated that work carried on among the Indians, the native inhabitants of our Western Hemisphere, yields a rich fruitage in souls gathered as subjects for the kingdom of Christ. The work Brother and Sister Stahl have accomplished in Peru, among the downtrodden descendants of the once-powerful Inca Indian tribes, where we now have a loyal church membership of over three hundred, shows what may be accomplished by earnest, persistent effort put forth in the fear and love of God.
There are many Indians within the borders of the United States who not only have not heard the third angel’s message, but know nothing of the gospel of Christ. Many of these tribes are on reservations within the boundaries of our union conferences, which have strong working forces and large memberships.
In looking over some carefully compiled statistics recently published in the Missionary Review of the World, showing by an accompanying map the location of these reservations, and giving the number of Indians residing on them and the number who had not received the gospel, it seemed as if it were high time that we as a people should carefully study the question of giving these people the truth for this time. We are sending volunteers to many distant lands to give the message to the people there, many of whom are no more susceptible to its influence and uplifting power than arethese Indians at our very doors. Are there not some of our strong young men and young women who will volunteer to go among these Indians, study and acquire their languages, and give them the third angel’s message?
Below is the table, giving the names of the Indian tribes, where each is located, and the number belonging to it. “Provided for” or “unprovided for” indicates whether or not missions have been established among them.

Neglected and Unevangelized Indians of the United States

(The numerals refer also to the location on the accompanying map.)
TRIBE                             NO. OF INDIANS
ARIZONA
1. Chemchuevi; Colo. River Agency, Parker, Ariz. ................................ 151
2. Hualapai; Truxton Canon and N. W. ............................................. 483
3. Havasupai; Cataract Canon .......................................................... 169
4. Navajo; northern part of reservation (see New Mexico Navajo); number unprovided for, estimated at .......................................................... 3,000
5. Apaches; Coyotera, 556; on San Pedro River, 300; on Lower Gila River, 300 .......................................................... 1,156
6. Apaches; Geronimo and Cibique ...................................................... 700
7. Papago; nomadic and in villages, southern Arizona; number unprovided for, estimated at .......................................................... 1,000
8. Apache-Mohave; in Rio Verde Valley and southeast of Prescott ............ 400
CALIFORNIA
9. Tribes and bands north of Tehachapi Pass; unprovided for, estimated at 5,000
COLORADO
10. Southern Utes; Capota and Moache ................................................ 367
11. Winimuche Ute; near Navaho Springs .............................................. 493
IDAHO
12. Cœur d’Alene and Spokane ............................................................ 614
KANSAS
13. Pottawottomi and Ponca; Prairie Band .............................................. 745
14. Kaw; Osage Agency ................................................................. 231
MICHIGAN
15. Pottawottomi of Huron ................................................................. 78
16. Chippewa and Ottawa; partially provided for; estimate of unevangelized .................................................................................. 1,500
MINNESOTA
17. Bois Forte Chippewa; Nett Lake and Vermillion Lake ........................ 646
18. Lake Superior and Pigeon River; unprovided for, estimated at ............ 2,000
MONTANA
19. Blackfeet; unprovided for, estimated at .......................................... 1,000
20. Northern Cheyenne, of Tongue River; unprovided for, estimated at .... 600
21. Flatheads; unprovided for, estimated at .......................................... 1,200
NEVADA
22. Tribes and bands not under agencies, unprovided for, estimated at ...... 2,000
23. Pah-Ute, Washoe, and Winnemucca; near Reno, Nev. .......................... 275
24. Paiute; Ft. McDermitt ................................................................. 336
25. Moapa River; near Las Vegas ........................................................ 125
NEW MEXICO
26. Pueblo; of 15 villages, partially provided for, estimated unevangelized .................................................................................. 4,000
27. Navajo; of northwestern part of territory, partially provided for, estimated unevangelized (see also Arizona) ........................................ 1,500
28. Navajo; of Canon City ................................................................. 195
NEW YORK
29. Iroquois; Cattaraugus reservation; unevangelized, estimated at ............ 400
NORTH CAROLINA
30. Eastern Cherokees; unprovided for, estimated at ............................... 600
NORTH DAKOTA
31. Chippewa and Sioux; unprovided for, estimated at ............................. 800
OKLAHOMA
32. Peoria and Miami; partially provided for ........................................ 359
33. Osage; partially provided for ........................................................ 800
34. Ponca; partially provided for ........................................................ 591
35. Oto and Missouri; partially provided for ......................................... 435
36. Tonkawe; of Ponca Agency, 48; Kaws, 158 ........................................ 206
37. Sac and Fox, 561; Iowa, 80 ............................................................ 641
38. Tribes of eastern Oklahoma, Kiowan, Modoc, Ottawa, Quapaw, Eastern Shawnee, Seneca, Wyandot; unprovided for, estimated at ............ 800
39. Pottawottomi, Shawnee, Kickapoo ..................................................... 600
40. Cherokee; full-blood communities, partially provided for, estimated unevangelized .................................................................................. 2,000
OREGON
41. Siletz; Grand Ronde, Oregon ............................................................ 429
42. Modoc, Paiute, and Pit River bands ................................................... 375
43. Scattered bands on public domain, near Roseburg, unprovided for, estimated at .................................................................................. 1,000
SOUTH DAKOTA
44. Ogalala Sioux; Pine Ridge; unevangelized, estimated at ...................... 1,000
UTAH
45. Ute, Uintah, Uncompahgre; White River; unprovided for, estimated at .................................................................................. 800
46. Paiutes; scattered bands ................................................................. 370
WASHINGTON
47. Nez Percé, Joseph’s and Moses’ band ................................................ 414
48. Okinagan .................................................................................... 475
49. Skokomish .................................................................................. 194
50. Scattered bands ........................................................................... 800
51. Tulalip ....................................................................................... 400
WISCONSIN
52. Chippewa; unprovided for, estimated at ............................................ 1,500
53. Menominee; unprovided for, estimated at ........................................... 800
54. Winnebago; unprovided for, estimated at ............................................ 500
Total estimated number of Indians unprovided for ................................. 47,253
Number of tribes and bands without Christian missions ............................ 78
Total number of Indians unclaimed as adherents of the Christian faith (including the above) ........................................................................ 175,000
Cannot our union conference committees give some attention to this important work, and place some laborers among the tribes of America’s original sons and daughters?