KnowledgeBases > Early Reform Efforts
In the early 1920's reform efforts were triggered by John Collier, a social worker concerned about the Indians. As a result of his concerns he formed the American Indian Defense Association with the aim of protecting their religious freedom and tribal property. For the next decade Collier was an active proponent for Indian reform efforts. While Collier's initial efforts had little impact on the Bureau of Indian Affairs the subsequent Meriam Report of
1926 did.
The Merriam report looked at a cross section of Indian life at that time. Its lead finding was that "An overwhelming majority of the Indians are poor, even extremely poor, and they are not adjusted to the economic and social system of the dominant white civilization." Addressing education the report recommended
the following:
- Do away with "The Uniform Course of Study," which stressed only the cultural values of whites.
- Only older children should attend the non-reservation boarding schools.
- Younger children should attend a community school near home.
- The Indian Service must provide youth and parents with tools to adapt to both the white and Indian world.
To read the complete report click on The Problem of Indian Administration.
In 1933 President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed John Collier Commissioner of Indian Affairs and he immediately began to push for change in the federal government's policies towards the Indians. To reform the federal law addressing Indian affairs Congress passed the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934. The passage of Indian Reorganization Act marked the end of assimilation as an official policy of the federal government.
Sources:
American Indian Defense Association, From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
History of Indian Education: The 1920s, American Indian Education Foundation
Meriam Report - The Problem of Indian Administration
Indian Reorganization Act of 1934
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