Chronology of American Indian History

P

become victims of non-Indian con men looking
to swindle them out of their money in any way
possible. In the three-year period beginning in
1921, many Osage are killed under mysterious cir-
cumstances, often with non-Indians named as their
legal beneficiaries. While 24 murder cases are left
unsolved, many other deaths are questionably ruled
as suicides. This reign of terror among the Osage
will lead Congress to pass the Osage Guardianship
Act (see entry for 1925).

Mission Indian Federation members are
arrested for conspiracy.
Angered by the hostility of Mission Indian Fed-
eration—a powerful California Indian advocacy
group—toward the Bureau of Indian Affairs (see
entry for NOVEMBER 1919), the Department of
Justice orders the arrest of 57 federation members.
They are charged with conspiracy against the U.S.
government. Released without bail, the accused
prepare for a long legal battle, but the charges will
be dropped three years later after all Indians are
granted citizenship (see entry for JUNE 2, 1924).

Non-Indian hobbyists perform the Snake
Dance as the Smokis.
Established by the Prescott, Arizona, chamber of
commerce to promote tourism, the Smokis are non-
Indians who gather annually to dress up in Indian
costumes and perform a version of the Hopi Snake
Dance down the town’s main street. Over the next
70 years the Smokis will develop into a secret society,
with members taking Indian names and identifying
themselves with small tattoos, called “snakebites,”
on their hands. The hobbyist group will continue to
stage its annual Snake Dances until the early 1990s,
when objections from the Hopi finally compel the
Smokis to abandon the ceremony.

November 2

The Snyder Act provides funds services
for Indians.
Responding to the dire health conditions in many
Native American communities, Congress passes the

Snyder Act. The act gives Congress the authority to

authorize funds for health, social, and educational

programs for Indian groups, even those for whom

the United States is not required by treaty to pro-

vide such services.

November 11

Plenty Coups speaks at the Tomb of the

Unknown Soldier dedication.

Joining President Warren G. Harding and many

foreign dignitaries, Crow leader Plenty Coups

marches in a procession to Arlington National

Cemetery for the dedication of the Tomb of the

Unknown Soldier. Before the soldier’s body is

placed in the tomb, Plenty Coups, in a scripted

performance, emerges from the crowd to place his

eagle-feathered headdress and coup stick on the

coffin. Ignoring officials requests that he remain

silent during the ceremony, the Indian leader then

turns to the crowd and, speaking in Crow, pays

tribute to the Indian warriors of the past and offers

a brief prayer for peace.

“I am glad to represent all the

Indians of the United States

in placing on the grave of this

noble warrior this coup stick

and war bonnet, every eagle

feather of which represents a

deed of valor by my race.... I

hope that the Great Spirit will

grant that these noble warriors

have not given up their lives

in vain and that there will be

peace to all men hereafter.”

—Crow chief Plenty Coups at the

dedication ceremony for Tomb of

the Unknown Soldier