1. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly 1931-1941
Indian New Deal:
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

2. A. Status Quo & Calls for reform
1934: Johnson-O’Malley Act
1935: Indian Arts and Crafts Act
1934: Collier develops new agenda for Indian Office
Collier requested report by Feb 15, 1934

3. B. Collier’s Baby Indian Reorganization Act
Feb 12, 1934: Collier submits 48 page Indian Reorganization Act
Sec 1: tribal gov’t, courts, personnel, review of fed budgets
Sec 2: ed, Civil service requirements
Sec 3: abolishing allotment
Sec 4: Court of Indian Affairs
Fearful that the IRA might “return Indians to the blanket"

4. C. The Good the Bad the Ugly: Promoting the Plan
Who would benefit
Who wouldn’t
began promoting with tribes in 10 regional congresses
Implied threat that rejection would regress tribe and disqualify from money
IRA high-handed tactics vs. well-meaning outreach

5. D. Congress
May 1, 1934: Collier failed to get support offers revised shortened bill
June 18, 1934: House Passes 258/88, signed by FDR
1. No allotment
2. Create tribal governments
3. Increased money: $10 million tribal business loan, $250,000 for education
4. Civil Service exempted for Indians
5. Tribe must consent to become IRA tribes

6. E. Tribal Responses June 1934-5 tribal IRA voting
Voting guidelines made rejection difficult and soured Collier’s relationship tribes
1934: majority of possible voter base to reject irregardless of the attendance
1935: majority of attending votes
250 tribal elections, majority against
Tribes: 172 accept/78 reject
Only 93 of accept adopted new constitutions in 10 years.
Smaller and desperate tribes embraced IRA
Accepted
Rejected
Oneida
Navajo ( )
Absentee-Shawnee
Klamath (Or)
Apache
NY tribes

7. F. Critical Issues: Effects
Pine Ridge and Rosebud rez divided over IRA: “New Dealers” and “Old Dealers”
1939 Oneida Tribe benefit bought 12,000 acres in Wisconsin
Klamath debating IRA but complicated tribal politics
Once Feds made a decision tribes were nearly powerless
1937: Wheeler repeal attempt
Rep. Usher L. Burdick, ND HR5921 April 20, 1939 to repeal IRA