In undertaking these expeditions to the North American Indian, the sole
desire has been to perpetuate the life story of the first Americans and to
strengthen in their hearts the feeling of allegiance and friendship for
their country.
For this purpose two expeditions were sent forth to gather historic data
and make picture records of their manners, customs, their sports and
games, their warfare, religion, and the country in which they live.
As a result, on Washington’s Birthday, 1913, thirty-two Indian chiefs,
representing eleven tribes, assembled with the President of the United
States together with many eminent citizens and details from the Army and
Navy to open ground for the Indian Memorial authorized by act of Congress
to be erected in the harbour of New York.
The Indian chiefs assembled, hoisted the American flag, the first time in
their history. This act and the flag gave birth to a thrill of
patriotism. These warriors of other days laid claim to a share in the
destiny of our country. So deeply were these First Americans impressed
with a sense of loyalty to the flag that, again under the authority of the
President of the United States, a third Expedition was sent forth to every
Indian tribe. The purpose of this Expedition was twofold, the linking of
every tribe in the country with the National Indian Memorial, and the
inspiring of an ideal of patriotism in the mind of the red man—a spirit of
patriotism that would lead to a desire for citizenship—a feeling of
friendship and allegiance, to be eternally sealed as a convenant in the
Indian Memorial.
Here, under the blessing of God, on the shores of our beloved country,
where the red man first gave welcome to the white man, this Memorial will
stand in eternal bronze, in memory of a noble, though vanishing race, and
a token to all the world of the one and indivisible citizenship of these
United States.
RODMAN WANAMAKER.
[The Approach of the Chiefs]