Indians Seize Files as Some Go Home
Indians Seize Files as Some Go Home
Spokesmen for American Indians occupying the Bureau of Indian Affairs said yesterday that they have read and removed from the building boxes of files that they say show "scandalous if not criminal" exploitation of Indians by senators, congressmen, BIA officials and corporate interests.
Russell Means, a leader of the Trail of Broken Treaties caravan, told reporters on the BIA steps that the documents include personnel and real estate records and FBI investigative reports.
He did not go into detail, but said the documents show "collusion, at least, in ripping off Indian land, water, fishing, agriculture and mineral rights."
With the seizure of the files, carried out inconspicuously in jackets, boxes and blankets, Means said, "For all intents and purposes, the BIA is abolished."
In a statement Monday, Interior Secretary Rogers C. B. Morton said, "Vital land, water and personnel records have been destroyed. These will take months to reassemble, if that is at all possible."
The claim that the documents had been taken came during a day that saw negotiations continue between Indians and administration officials, and the departure of many other Indians for their homes. This was in line with the original timetable, which called for a week of demonstrations to end yesterday, but well before a court-ordered eviction set for tonight at 9.
The possibility of a violent confrontation between large numbers of Indians and federal mershals subsided somewhat, as Means said, "Many have left because of jobs, family commitments. As the leadership has come to recognize, these people have to get home. That's the next set of problems."
He vowed, however, that at least some Indians would remain behind to confront any federal force seeking to evict them. This would demonstrate, he said, that officials waited only for the election to carry out the eviction. "Also, many of us are ready to die for our beliefs."
At noon yesterday, an Indian spokesman estimated that there were about 800 Indians in the building; by yesterday evening their numbers had dwindled as some were seen leaving, taking bedrolls with them. No precise figures were availabe.
The Indian negotiators, about a dozen, mostly middle-aged men, left for a White House meeting around noon. They were led by Hank Adams, Indian legal adviser, who said the primary item on the agenda was "to negotiate an agreement for our departure from this building."
Late yesterday, the Indian representatives agreed to continue talks with a special task force that is to be made up of officers of all the federal agencies operating programs for Indians. The task force is to be led by Leonard Garment, special consultant to the President, and Frank Carlucci, deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget.
An Interior Department spokesman said last night that the task force would review federal Indian policy and Indian needs. The body, which will exist for six months, will submit recommendations to the Presidenty by June 1, 1973, together "with any additional or independent views of the Indian representatives," the spokesman said.
Vernon Bellecourt, a spokesman for the American Indian Movement, said last night that despite the agreement to continue talks with the new task force, the Indians would not leave the BIA until the government acts on the issues that brought the Indians to Washington.
These include demands that treaties be respected, the BIA be abolished, several federal officials be fired, and, in an apparent contradiction, that $50 million be restored to the BIA budget.
In their sixth day of th occupying the BIA building at 19th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, Indian leaders stressed that the seizure was incidental to the purpose of the caravan.
"We did not come here as a military force to occupy any building whatsoever," Means said. "If we've had problems in security, among ourselves, it is because we're not a discplined military unit."
Security was tight through the day. Reporters were not allowed inside the building, as they had been days earlier. Around 9 a.m., wire cables were strung from first floor windows almost to Constitution Avenue, thus roping off much of the BIA front lawn from sympathizers, spectators and newsmen.
Later, around 4:30 p.m., some Indians emerged from the building saying they had captured a "white cop." They said they found him inside the building, complete with gun, handcuffs and police identification.
The man came outside and identified himself as metropolitan Officer Roger O'Day. He said he had walked into the rear of the building. "I was on assignment in the area," he said. "I was not ordered to go inside. I was just curious."
For the most part, however, the once tense mood at the BIA seemed to lessen as the morning chill and gray sky were replaced by an unusually warm November day and blue skies. Occasionally, bits of humor crept in.
An Indian woman, strolling down the steps, remarked, "I never saw so many cameras in my life." At least some of the cameras belonged to Indians.
Seventh graders from the Field School, 1711 Connecticut Ave. NW, visited the scene as part of a class project on Indians. Eric Jackson, 12, wanted to know about Indian reservations.
"Is it as bad as the ghetto?" he asked. A Cheyenne replied, "It's just as bad."
Then the Indian added, "You should live out in the country. There is fresh air. You grab your gun and go into your backyard and go hunting . . . rabbits, bear, prairie chickens. In the afternoon, you can go fishing."
Throughout the day, families, many from the suburbs, dropped off food at the BIA for the Indians. Johanna Gordon, of Lorton, Va., came with her two sons, daughter-in-law and granddaughter to deliver canned meat and vegetables.
"I think these people have really a gripe," she said. "Some people should help them."
Another woman walked up to an Indian security guard, a 25-year-old Mohawk from Cleveland, and handed him a $5 bill. "I don't handle the money," he said. "I trust you to put it in the pot," she said, and he thanked her.
Breakfast yesterday was eggs and coffee, the Mohawk said. It was cooked and served in the BIA basement cafeteria, he said, with about 20 people preparing the food.
Most of the Indians slept inside the building, on concrete floors, in chairs, on rugs. The YMCA, at 18th and G Streets NW, housed and fed about 150 women and children, many of whom returned to the BIA during the daytime.
Aside from the logistics of their stay, some Indians expressed frustration with what they said was the public's failure to understand their plight.
"A lot of people come up and don't know what we're doing here," said a Cheyenne from Montana, who appeared to be in his 30s.
He stood on the steps close by a small sign that read, "Closed for Repairs." "One woman came up and said, 'Why is this building closed for repairs? Seven days here and they come up with a stupid question like that."
Differences between the Indians at the BIA and their tribal leaders also emerged from conversations. "We can't get anything through our tribal leaders because they get BIA money," said a middle-aged Sioux woman from Pine Ridge, S.D. "We're grassroots. We're the poorest of the poor."
The Cheyenne from Montana said, "This movement here had to do something to get our point across because the tribal chieftains ain't going to do this."
As if to confirm the split, Earl Old Person, of Browning, Mont., chairman of the Blackfeet Tribal Council, denounced the demonstrators. He said yesterday, "We have elected tribal leaders. These demonstrators do not represent grassroots Indians."
Meanwhile, Peter MacDonald, Navaho tribal chieftain, sent a telegram to President Nixon urging that a 10-member commission be created, composed of Indians and government officials, to arbitrate the issues.
Meanwhile, the occupying Indians received support elsewhere from 100 Indians and their supporters who seized BIA offices in Seattle, Wash. They vowed to remain there until demands of demonstrators here are met.
Rep. Shirley Chisholm (D-N.Y.) pledged her "full support" to the Trail of Broken Treaties caravan in a telegram yesterday. Dr. Benjamin Spock, People's Party presidential candidate, appeared in person yesterdy afternoon to offer his support.
Spock ignored the advise of his Secret Service guards, and entered the BIA accompanied by Indian leader Bellecourt. The two emerged minutes later, at which time Spock praised the Indians and their cause.