Lamanite Self-Help Programs: A Status Report

A field day was recently held on the Blood Indian Reserve near Cardston, Alberta, Canada, as the climax of a program of assistance sponsored by the Brigham Young University Institute of American Indian Services and Research.

The project included home development and improvement, community gardens, programs to increase agricultural production, and the organization of the Future Farmers of the Reserve. This last program was introduced to encourage the building of dairy and beef herds and provide firsthand experience for young Indians in productive animal husbandry.

This particular project is one of many in a self-help program initiated by the Church in 1958 for the American Indian. Administered by the BYU Institute, the program has involved some 1,200 Indian families of 40 tribes in more than 60 agricultural projects. In addition, the program has helped establish small businesses and educational projects.

Important features of the program are that it is available to all Indians, they themselves initiate various projects, and they must be willing to be fully involved.

Giving money is not part of the Church program, although a substantial number of foundation grants have been received to assist in the work. Many Church members, especially those living in Idaho and northern Utah, have contributed seed, fertilizer, fuel, and farm machinery.

Considered one of the greatest contributions to the program is the dedicated service of couples who live on the reservations with the Indians. Currently more than 40 such couples give of their time and experience to assist in various projects on a family, community, or tribal basis.

The Church program has provided self-help guidance and counsel in Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Montana, and the projects have included Indian cooperatives and preparations for the first Indian-owned trading post in America. As work proceeds on the reservations and reserves, Indian students attending BYU are developing their expertise and talents so that they may fill leading roles in the expanding program. In addition, businessmen are providing the students with opportunities to learn business administration so that they may be trained to operate their own businesses.

The success of these programs can best be summed up in the words of Albert Narrango, council member for 20 years of the Santa Clara Pueblo Tribe and tribal lieutenant governor for three years:

“I have been associated with the Mormon people for the past two years, and I must admit that I have never in my life seen such dedicated people. They have encouraged us to try different crops, to irrigate properly, to level our land, and to learn the importance of fertilizing. All in all, I feel that we farmers have greatly benefited. We hope we can continue to have this assistance when necessary.”