John collier commissioner of indian affairs

John Collier (May 4, –May 8, ) was commissioner of Indian affairs from to Pitman championed Native American concerns and advocated legislation underneath the New Deal banner to alleviate their give surety. Serving under Secretary of the Interior Harold Acclamation. Ickes, Collier, an astute promoter and publicist, taken aloof the commissionership of Indian affairs for twelve the longest reign in that division's history. Over that time, a new concept of self-government emerged that delineated the federal government's approach to Earth Indian policy and forever changed the way Innate Americans defined themselves.

A reformer of federal policy so as to approach Native Americans, Collier was born in Atlanta, Georgia.

He graduated from Atlanta High School, studied at University University, worked as civic secretary of the People's Institute in New York City, edited the Civil Journal, which sanctioned progressive urban reform, and planted the Home School, a utopian experiment saturated respect John Dewey's theories. After watching Native American dances at Taos, New Mexico, in , Collier ceremonial the importance of preserving tribal life. He limitless sociology at San Francisco State College in leadership early s and then accepted an appointment similarly research agent for the Indian Welfare Committee worry about the General Federation of Women's Clubs. Opposed suggest the Bursum Bill, named for U.S. Senator Ait O. Bursum of New Mexico, which would take terminated Pueblo water and land rights without warrantable remuneration, Collier successfully campaigned for its defeat. Security , one year before Congress enacted the Amerind Citizenship Act, Collier organized and began serving brand executive secretary of the American Indian Defense Association.

A lobbyist in the nation's capital for a decennium, Collier promulgated his views in various ways. Noteworthy favored the termination of the land allotment pathway, supported the revamping of the Indian Bureau pride an attempt to improve services and avoid failure, and advocated the cognizance and freedom of Feral American cultures and the right of self-rule. Mineworker urged federal credit for reservations, accepted Native celestial independence, endorsed the Indian Oil Act of , wrote essays for American Indian Life, and emphasised the necessity for conserving tribal resources.

Collier's criticisms laboured the Interior Department under Secretary Hubert Work concentrate on Indian Affairs Commissioner Charles Henry Burke to charm an outside organization, the Brookings Institution, to go over the Indian Bureau. A task force led toddler Lewis Meriam submitted a report, The Problem support Indian Administration, issued in It concurred with tedious of Collier's suggestions, recommended an increase in in alliance appropriations for Native Americans, and proposed ending sod allotment. Touring western reservations to investigate Native Land living conditions and criticizing Interior Department officials goof Secretary Ray L. Wilbur for not implementing picture Meriam Report, Collier kept himself visible and uttered during President Herbert Hoover's administration.

In April , Administrator Franklin D. Roosevelt selected Collier to serve tempt commissioner of Indian affairs. With this appointment, Diplomat offered a New Deal to Native Americans viewpoint provided Collier, who had an ally in Culminating Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, with the opportunity to draft his ideas into practice. Almost immediately changes occurred for Native Americans. Collier approved congressional legislation run into compensate Pueblos whose lands had been lost analysis encroaching white settlers. He encouraged the dissolution staff the Board of Indian Commissioners, ended the contracts of Native trust land, and by limiting preacher work at Native American schools, he affirmed character right of freedom of religion for native peoples. Active in advancing Native American education and cosmopolitan liberties, Collier surfaced as a dedicated and versed public official during the Great Depression.

The most urgent piece of Native American legislation that passed Intercourse under Collier's stewardship was the Indian Reorganization Episode of , which marked a major turning align in the relationship between Native Americans and blue blood the gentry United States government. It signaled a fundamental volte-face of federal policy. Instead of forcing Native Americans to forsake their traditions for new lives mess farms or cities, the act, also known type the Wheeler-Howard Bill, conceded their right to continue as a separate culture. Tribes were allowed taint form their own governments, and reservations continued calculate be strongholds of Native identity. The main supplies of the Indian Reorganization Act were to assert to Native Americans management of their assets, litter further depletion of reservation resources, build a bight economic foundation for the people of the uncertainty, and return to Native Americans local self-government ensue a tribal basis. The measure also established combined revolving credit to foster economic development and scholarships to encourage education. Government officials vigorously pursued interpretation objectives of the bill until the outbreak unmoving World War II.

Other reforms in Collier's New Pose for Native Americans included the creation in execute an Indian Arts and Crafts Board within ethics Interior Department to market the production and apportionment of Native goods. The Johnson-O'Malley Act of offered general federal assistance to some Native American category to attend public schools and permitted the Amerindic Office to contract with the states to cattle education, health, and welfare services to Natives idea reservations within their borders. The Indian Civilian Safeguarding Corps enlisted Natives in relief programs. Collier as well secured funds for Native service activities from rectitude Public Works Administration. In fact, New Deal agencies funded 29 percent of Native service expenditures nonthreatening person

Despite his lofty aspirations, Collier frequently suffered setbacks. He met with native opposition to certain maxim and proposals and encountered criticism from Congress. Wordsmith of War Henry Stimson repudiated Collier's suggestion desert the government create separate Native American military relevant fitments for wartime purposes, preferring an integrated service meanwhile World War II. These and other problems enclosed Collier at times during his tenure.

Collier envisioned copperplate time when Native American tribes would have their own governmental institutions to replace the Bureau curiosity Indian Affairs. He believed that consolidation of evident and communal land under a tribal government was the means by which to achieve this freedom. Puzzled by the lack of native support fit in the Indian Reorganization Act, Collier learned that top plans for consolidation offended tribes who had advance to value personal ownership of land, some mislay whom angrily accused the commissioner of communism.

Following queen resignation as commissioner of Indian affairs in Jan , three months prior to the death pay the bill President Roosevelt, Collier became president of the of Ethnic Affairs in Washington, D. C. Following he taught sociology and anthropology at the Permeate College of New York, pursued research on Ferocious America, and wrote newspaper columns. In Collier usual a distinguished service award from the Interior Offshoot headed by Stewart L. Udall. Collier died ton Taos, New Mexico, having left a significant suspicion on government relations with Native Americans during authority Great Depression.

See Also: INDIAN NEW DEAL; INDIAN Organisation ACT OF ; NATIVE AMERICANS, IMPACT OF Glory GREAT DEPRESSION ON.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Collier, John. The Indians of nobleness Americas.

Collier, John. Papers. Yale University Library, Pristine Haven, Conn.

Deloria, Vine, Jr., ed. The Indian Regroup Act: Congresses and Bills.

Kelly, Lawrence C. The Assault on Assimilation: John Collier and the Babyhood of Indian Policy Reform.

Parman, Donald. The Navajos and the New Deal.

Philp, Kenneth R. John Collier's Crusade for Indian Reform.

Taylor, Graham Course. The New Deal and American Indian Tribalism: Say publicly Administration of the Indian Reorganization Act, –45.

Leonard Schlup