Board of Indian Commissioners

TheBoard of Indian Commissionerswas a committee that advised the federalgovernmentof theUnited StatesonNative Americanpolicy and inspected supplies delivered to Indian agencies to ensure the fulfillment of government treaty obligations.

History

The board, established byCongresson 10 April 1869, authorized the president to organize a board of not more than ten persons "to be selected by him from men eminent for their intelligence and philanthropy, to serve without pecuniary compensation."It remained an all-Protestant,male bodyuntil 1902, when PresidentTheodore Rooseveltappointed twoRoman Catholicsto fill vacancies.The Board of Indian Commissioners established what an "Indian" was, and the rights that they were given, through the different laws and regulations for educating Indians that the board established. An Indian was determined based on their physical appearances. However, legally, it was difficult to determine what rights to give Indians, as according to the board, they weren't aliens or foreigners, however, they weren't citizens by birth. The board therefore determined how to go about treating Native Americans.The members of the board all held semi-official positions within the government, unlike other humanitarian boards. However, the amount of work that the board was able to accomplish was rather compromised, because Congress held the board responsible for funding, and didn't give sufficient powers to enforce either their fundings or recommendations.

Grant's Indian peace policy

Beginning in 1869, and in concert with the board, PresidentUlysses S. Grantattempted to formulate a new humane policy towards Native American tribes that was free of political corruption. Known as thePeace Policy,it aimed to place Native Americans on reservations where, in collaboration withChristian Churchorganizations, theOffice of Indian Affairswould provide Native Americans with moral and competent Indian agents, establish churches and schools, teach agriculture and civilized pursuits and provide high-quality supplies at reasonable prices.

In 1872, the implementation of the policy involved the allotting of Indian reservations to religious organizations as exclusive religious domains. Of the 73 agencies assigned, theMethodistsreceived fourteen; the OrthodoxFriendsten; thePresbyteriansnine; theEpiscopalianseight; theRoman Catholicsseven; the HicksiteFriendssix; theBaptistsfive; theDutch Reformedfive; theCongregationaliststhree;Christianstwo;Unitarianstwo;American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missionsone; andLutheransone. In the same year, 1872, Presbyterian, Methodist, and Episcopal missions converted more than 600Sioux,Chippewas,Nez Percésand otherNative Americansto these religions. In order to join theseChristianreligions, the Native Americans were required to shave their hair, adopt civil clothing, and go to work for his living. In essence, the conversion of Native Americans to these Christian religions was an attempt at assimilating Native Americans to the white man's society.The distribution caused immediate dissatisfaction among many groups who claimed that they had been slighted or overlooked. The selection criteria were vague and some critics saw the Peace Policy as violating Native Americanfreedom of religion.Among the Roman Catholics, this dissatisfaction led to the establishment of theBureau of Catholic Indian Missionsin 1874.

The Peace Policy remained in force until 1881, when the government heeded the protests of religious organizations whose missionaries had been removed from reservations on which they had not been assigned.

The Board after 1900

Although the Board of Indian Commissioners began to lose influence in 1900, the appointment of new members quickly revived it. The introduction ofWarren K. Mooreheadto the Board led to the Board becoming aware of diseases that existed on reservations, as Moorehead was dedicated to this.In 1922,Flora Warren Seymourbecame the first woman on the Board.The fight against diseases on reservations was continued by the board memberCharles Burkein 1923, when he began a health drive. Although the Board of Indian Commissioners continued to accomplish its goals of fighting disease on reservations, assimilating Native Americans into popular society, and making citizenship available to Native Americans throughout theProgressive Eraand well into the 1920s, the Board was terminated byJohn Collierin 1933, as there was no funding for the Board in theNew Deal.