The American Missionary — Volume 41, No. 1, January, 1887 — John Shaqi
The American Missionary — Volume 41, No. 1, January, 1887Various
Religion
The American Missionary — Volume 41, No. 1, January, 1887
Various
Congregational churches -- Missions -- Periodicals; Home missions -- Periodicals
Before leaving this view of Indian life, let me give you a glimpse
of our other station, Fort Berthold, through a recent letter from
Mrs. Hall, formerly Miss Webb, of Santee. She writes: “You have
no idea, and I cannot begin to realize, the depths of heathenism
and degradation which surround us. It is only a little walk to the
village, and strange sounds come from there all through the nights.
There is dancing and all sorts of wickedness going on. I wish our
Agent would use his power to put a stop to such things. I have
had my first women’s meeting. My plan is this: to have a circle
composed of the mothers of our boys and girls, or, if they have no
mothers, the woman nearest to them. My first meeting consisted of
five. One of them could speak Dakota so I was able to reach her a
little. She was an interesting, bright woman, but oh! so dirty! I
was wonderfully drawn to her and also to one of her little girls.
Here was an opportunity to use my Dakota Bible, which I was so glad
to improve. Now I am surrounded by Rees and Gros Ventres, I feel
the barrier of language exceedingly. The Rees are around us mostly.
The Gros Ventres have taken their farms twenty, thirty, or forty
miles away. Here will be such a field for some of our boys. Who
will be the devoted, consecrated worker? I feel all we can do now
is to pray; and I am sure God will hear and answer.”
Having tried to picture to you our people in their own homes, in
parts of the Oahe and Fort Berthold fields, turn with me now to
our Santee school, and the record of its boys and girls. Some
of these not long since came from similar homes; others are the
children of Christian parents and grandparents, and do not know of
the native beliefs and customs, except as they are told. We have
representatives from ten different tribes, five tribes (and the
larger part) belonging to the Sioux or Dakota Nation, the remaining
five belonging to the Rees, Mandans, Gros Ventres, Arapahoes and
Poncas. The whole number of different pupils last year was 210.
This shows a steady increase. They have continued in larger numbers
through the year, and those from a distance have enjoyed attending
the summer sessions of school. There has been marked progress
in their studies and deportment; especially in deportment, for
those who used to be so painfully shy, and their voices so faint
one must strain the ear to listen, can now, with their acquired
knowledge of spoken English, look you confidently in the face and
respond with distinct voices. The brightening of the eye and whole
countenance makes you sure of the bond of friendship established
between teacher and pupil, which gives always a promise of success.
In the homes, in the shops (of which there are three—blacksmith,
carpenter and shoe shop), on the farm and at school, many through
the year have given very satisfactory service. While I would not
claim for any, perfection of conduct, yet in simple justice to
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account