Forever by Your Side (Willamette Brides #3) - Tracie Peterson Page 0,37

has been some trouble. You see, when they established the reservation land, the government set things up so that the Indians could only transfer their property to other Indians, preferably relatives. However, in the case of death, only immediate family could inherit. This created a problem, because in many cases tribal members have chosen to live together under one roof—especially as their people have died off. When they came to live together, they would take on the name of the landowner, so it muddies the water as to who is related and who isn’t. Clint has had his hands full trying to figure these things out and make sure that the right people inherit the land. It’s just one of many new problems we have to deal with besides the worries of an uprising.”

“Since all of the men who headed up their household were entitled to land, why would they give up their property to live with other family members?” Tom asked.

Mr. Browning shrugged. “I suppose because so many tribes have died off. There were thousands of people here at one time, and now only a few hundred remain. As you will learn, many of the tribes are no longer represented. They’re all gone.”

“Then we will endeavor to speak to those who remember those people and record what we can about their lives. We also intend to make sketches of the Indian heirlooms. Tom is a phenomenal artist,” Connie said, smiling at Tom.

When she looked at him with such admiration, Tom felt as if there were nothing he couldn’t do. She was always praising him to one person or another, yet she couldn’t see how he adored her.

“That’s wonderful, Tom,” Mrs. Browning said, smiling. “I’m sure that will be a most helpful talent.”

“Yes, but don’t get your hopes up about seeing too many heirlooms,” Connie’s father said, shaking his head. “Certain people have come to the reservation with men of power and bartered for or taken what they wanted. You would be appalled at what we’ve seen over the years. One man in particular, the Reverend Robert Summers, makes frequent visits to the reservation and has for years. He comes and demands the Indians take his money for artifacts and heirlooms. He gives them no choice.”

“I can’t abide him,” Mrs. Browning murmured.

“He treats the Indians with reserved indifference. He sees something he wants and asks how much. When they tell him it’s not for sale, he ignores them, thinking this is a game they play in bartering, while in fact the Indians do not wish to part with the things their family has passed down. There’s so little left to them after the forced march. What little they have, they hide, and then Summers just comes in and searches until he finds what he wants,” Mr. Browning continued.

“That’s terrible,” Connie said, putting her fork down. “Why is that allowed?”

“It’s not against any law, and he makes the trades very lucrative. I believe that, besides being a collector in his own right, he sells off the surplus and nets a tidy sum,” Connie’s father answered.

“Worse still is the selling of Indian bones,” her mother added.

“What are you talking about?” Connie asked. Her expression betrayed her disgust.

“Back in 1868, the US Army Surgeon General instructed the military officers to collect Indian crania. Apparently museums and schools were paying great sums of money for them. Some even wanted full skeletons to study to prove how Indians differed from white people. This spread like wildfire, and soon people all over the world had a morbid fascination with Indian heads and skeletons,” Mr. Browning replied.

“That is appalling. I remember your uncle telling our class something about it.” It seemed like an eternity since Tom had been in school, but he remembered it as if it were yesterday.

“I’m sure he did,” Adam Browning replied. “He was deeply offended as well. People were digging up graves, and with the interest in all things Indians, many people snuck onto the reservations to steal from gravesites and homes. We even dealt with the wife of the agent at the time, who was attempting to fill regular orders for Native pieces. The Indians wised up about her ploys and started telling her they had nothing more. She quickly lost interest. The Reverend Summers, however, forces his way into homes and looks for himself to see what is available.”

Tom was ashamed that people thought this was perfectly acceptable behavior. It was terrible to imagine someone forcing their way into homes to