After today’s discussion it really showed me how John Collier was a pretty good man but at the same time his wording in the new policies kind of looked at the Indians as zoo animals. Also learned about the Indian Reorganization Act. President Roosevelt signed the approval on June 18, 1934. The IRA would set the foundation for present day tribal government. The major goal was to reverse the traditional goal of assimilation of Indians into American society and to strengthen and encourage the tribes and their historic traditions and culture. Gave the Indians the right to form business and other organizations. I feel this act was good because it got rid of assimilation. I really feel that John Collier was a good guy because he would actually go into the Indian tribes and experience what they go through.
The Indians response to the IRA was with mixed feeling, some liked it and other did not. Some tribes rejected the IRA because they were suspicious of the federal government. Tribes believe that despite government promises, they might lose the remainder of their lands. Mixed-bloods who had done well with their allotment did not want to return to the old cultural ways and therefore opposed the IRA. I feel the response to the IRA is what I expected because the US has been terrible to the Indians for years and now they are just giving them things.