Work, Don't Dance!

An appeal and a warning was issued to all Indians by Indian Commissioner A. H. Burke. His appeal was especially against holding tribal dances when their work was needed in the fields, against torturing their bodies and handling poisonous snakes, against giving away their clothing, horses, cows and other possessions at ceremonies, against drugs, intoxicants and gambling at dances.

His warning was, that unless these reforms took place within a year, his department would take action.

Following the Commissioner's message, two protests were immediately made. The American Indian Defense Society in Manhattan asserted that if the program is carried out, the Indians will be compelled to abandon traditions as old as their race, and will be denied freedom in worshiping the gods of their ancestors. The other protest came from the Yakimo tribe in the State of Washington. Its chief in announcing the usual spring dances declared: " You say, ' Farm as the white man does' and ' Save your money as the white man does.' . . . When you stop the white man from dancing we may also stop dancing."