Commissioner Philleo Nash summarized the past year's accomplishments of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in a publication released today entitled "Indian Affairs 1964".
Emphasis is upon education and economic development," Nash said in announcing the new publication. "We are striving toward greater Indian participation in their own affairs--activity rather than passivity--with the end goal of maximum self-sufficiency for the Indian population.
"We are not yet at the boasting stage," Nash continued. "Our accomplishments only serve to bring into conspicuous light the social and economic problems that remain. But the Bureau's programs in the past four years--and particularly in the past year--surely make up the advance guard in the war on Indian poverty."
Nash pointed out that the Bureau's efforts are in line with pledges made four years ago to the Indian people. These pledges, he said, included economic aid to depressed areas; increased credit for Indians to help prevent forced sales of land; new housing; greater opportunities for education; expanded vocational training; development of Indian land resources; and greater cooperation between the Federal Government and Indian tribes.
Accomplishments reported in “Indian Affairs 1964" are summarized below. Individual copies of the publication may be obtained through the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Quantity copies may be purchased for 15 cents a copy through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.
Education: More than half the Bureau's funds went into education--chiefly for teachers' salaries and construction of schools, dormitories and related facilities. Enrollment of Indian children of school age increased 9.4 percent in the school year 1963-64 as compared to the preceding year. The Bureau operated 263 schools, serving 46,000 students from the primary grades through post-secondary technical institutes, and 19 dormitories for approximately 4,100 children attending public schools. Education highlights in 1964 included emphasis on post-secondary technical training in Bureau-operated schools; summer school enrichment programs which served 20,000, and financial aid to approximately 1,300 college youths in 1964.
More than 30,000 adults were enrolled in basic education on the reservations. An additional 2,350 received vocational training in public or private institutions or on-the-job training, all financed by the Bureau. These and another 2,000 were placed in skilled jobs off the reservations.
Housing: For the first time, Public Housing Administration loans became avail<~ able to reservation Indians and 3,200 housing units were approved in 17 States, about half of which are to be built under a cooperative plan whereby the Indian contributes his labor to give him equity. Sixty-three reservations established public housing authorities, and 400 houses were constructed in 1964. Loans: More than $6,700,000 was advanced in new loans for Indian tribes or individuals from the able to reservation Indians and 3,200 housing units were approved in 17 States, about half of which are to be built under a cooperative plan whereby the Indian contributes his labor to give him equity. Sixty-three reservations established public housing authorities, and 400 houses were constructed in 1964.
Loans: More than $6,700,000 was advanced in new loans for Indian tribes or individuals from the Bureau's revolving loan fund in fiscal year ended June 30, 1964. This compared with $5,900,000 in 1963. The availability of Federal funds stimulated tribal investment in the amount of $25,000,000 and private investment of $100,000,000.
Economic Development: Of 51 plants that the Bureau has assisted in locating on or near reservations, 21 began operation in 1964 and negotiations were under way with another 12. Moreover, 75 feasibility studies had been undertaken by FY 1964 to determine economic potentials such as tourism, food processing, lumbering, arts and crafts production, mineral development and soil and water development. Fiscal 1964 showed revenues from oil and gas leases of $66,000,000 as compared to $37,400,000 in the previous years. Stepped up real estate appraisal services by the Bureau resulted in a 22 percent increase from range rentals and a 45 percent increase from agricultural land.
The sale of Indian owned timber reached an all time high in fiscal 1964 with the cutting of 741 million board feet, sold for $11,400,000, creating 700 man-years of employment.
Public Improvements: During the 20-month period ending June 30, 1964, more than 30,000 man-months of Indian employment were created through public works projects on 89 reservations in twenty-one States, costing $21,000,000, and financed through the Public Works Administration. These permitted improvements long deferred because of lack of Bureau funds and included road construction, forest preservation, soil and moisture conservation, recreational site building and construction of community facilities.
Bureau road programs, conducted in 22 States, created substantial employment opportunities for Indians. These programs included maintenance of nearly 16,000 miles of reservation roads and construction on the $1,000,000 Toreva-Winslow road, a major project on the Navajo and Hopi reservations in Arizona. When completed, this road will become a State highway providing quick access to both reservations.
