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.17 The specifics of allotment in the context of citizenship are con-tained at Section 6, which states:160 individual indians and the constitutionAnd every Indian born within the territorial limits of the UnitedStates to whom allotments shall have been made under theprovisions of this act, or under any law or treaty, and every Indianborn within the territorial limits of the United States who hasvoluntarily taken up, within said limits, his residence separate andapart from any tribe of Indians therein, and has adopted the habits ofcivilized life, is hereby declared to be a citizen of the United States,and is entitled to all the rights, privileges, and immunities of suchcitizens, whether said Indian has been or not, by birth or otherwise, amember of any tribe of Indians within the territorial limits of theUnited States without in any manner impairing or otherwiseaffecting the right of any such Indian to tribal or other property.18Many in Congress came to feel that granting citizenship as soon as the allotmentwas issued, but before expiration of the twenty-five-year trust period and its atten-dant limitations on alienability and taxation,19 was precipitous and unwarranted.20The 1906 Burke Act amended the Dawes Severalty Act to withhold citizenshipuntil a fee (as opposed to a trust) patent was issued.21 The Allotment Act did notrequire renunciation of tribal membership as a condition of citizenship.Nor didit require any knowledge about the U.S.government or its Constitution.Citizenship that was conferred as a result of allotment was often accompa-nied by elaborate and revealing ritual that not only celebrated citizenship andpatriotism but also joined it to the virtues of work, saving, and  whiteness. Theshooting of a final arrow and placing a hand on the plow by Indian men and thetaking of  this work bag and purse by Indian women were the symbolic acts.The  Citizenship Ritual oath was a pageant of transformation:Citizenship RitualFor men: (Read name.) _____ (white name).What was your Indianname? (Gives name.) _____ (Indian name).I hand you a bow and anarrow.Take this bow and shoot the arrow.(He shoots.)_____ (Indian name).You have shot your last arrow.That means thatyou are no longer to live the life of an Indian.You are from this day for-ward to live the life of the white man.But you may keep that arrow, it willbe to you a symbol of your noble race and of the pride you feel that youcome from the first of all Americans._____ (White name).Take in your hand this plow.(He takes the han-dles of the plow.)This act means that you have chosen to live the life of the white manand the white man lives by work.From the earth we all must get our living,and the earth will not yield unless man pours upon it the sweat of his brow.Only by work do we gain a right to the land or to the enjoyment of life._____ (White name).I give you a purse.This purse will always say toyou that the money you gain from your labor must be wisely kept.Thewise man saves his money so that when the sun does not smile and thegrass does not grow, he will not starve.I give into your hands the flag of your country.This is the only flag youhave ever had or ever will have.It is the flag of freedom, the flag of freemen, the flag of a hundred million free men and women of whom youare now one.That flag has a request to make of you, _____ (white name);that you take it into your hands and repeat these words: For as much as the President has said that I am worthy to be a citizenof the United States, I now promise to this flag that I will give my hands,my head, and my heart to the doing of all that will make me a trueAmerican citizen.And now beneath this flag I place upon your breast the emblem ofyour citizenship.Wear this badge of honor always; and may the eaglethat is on it never see you do aught of which the flag will not be proud.(The audience rises and shouts:  _____ (white name) is an Americancitizen. )For women: (white name).Take in your hand this work bag and purse.(She takes the work bag and purse.)This means that you have chosen the life of the white woman and thewhite woman loves her home.The family and the home are the foundationof our civilization.Upon the character and industry of the mother and thehome maker largely depends the future of our Nation.The purse willalways say to you that the money you gain from your labor must be wiselykept.The wise woman saves her money, so that when the sun does notsmile and the grass does not grow, she and her children will not starve.I give into your hands the flag of your country.This is the only flag youhave ever had or ever will have [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]