Voices from the Past
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Voices from the Past The Indian Placement Program of Idaho, 1965 Interviewees: Deanna Cook, Ray and Nola Gallup, and Mary Miller May 6, 1984 Tape #125 Oral Interview conducted by Harold Forbush Transcribed by: Tia Aucoin February 2008 Edited by: Jeremy Sant February 2009 Brigham Young University- Idaho Harold Forbush: Side one of tape one, Oral History of the Upper Snake River Valley of Idaho. This tape or tapes will be referred to as the Indian Placement Program in the Counties of Jefferson, Madison, and Freemont Counties, between 1964 and 1984, a 20 year period. As a preliminary statement to this oral history research, I have received from Mr. Clarence E. Tuttle, a few pages of a Master’s Thesis filed with the church wide Indian Placement Program in the files there in Salt Lake City. I’m asking my wife Florence Forbush to read the paper prepared and received through Mr. Tuttle. Florence Forbush: In Idaho [agency?] Elder Kimball and Mr. Bishop met on January 25, 1964 with Mr. Charles Dunn who was the stake president, Mr. David Ricks, President of West Boise Stake, and Attorney A. Z. Reed Millar, also of Boise at this time. Discussion was held concerning the possibility of offering the opportunities of the program to both the Indian students of Idaho and the non-Indian foster homes. The possibilities were discussed of making the program available to some Indian students who would be placed in Utah during the school year of 1964 and ‘65, and to foster parents during the school year of ‘65 and ‘66. The group unanimously agreed that the Indian children sorely needed the benefit of such a program and that non-Indian members of the church in Idaho would support a program of this nature. Foot note 29: The stake presidents express the desire to further explore with their stake members and the possibility of making the program in Idaho a reality and Mr. Millar agreed to explore with the Idaho State Department of Child Welfare and their attitudes concerning the possibility of such a program. He also provided the program director with a copy of the Idaho law regulations concerning child placement agency to assist in preparing for any agency, but note number 30. Twenty-eight reports to the Indian Committee of proposed expansion ‘67 and ‘68 to 1971 and ‘72 by the Indian Student Placement Program of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City in the files of the program. In 29, the minutes of the meeting held January 25, 1964 in Boise, Idaho and files of the Indian Student Placement Program, and 30 it’s the same. The Indian Committee met April 6, 1964 in Salt Lake City with all of the Idaho Stake presidents. At this time the stake presidents submitted a positive report concerning the proposal suggested at the earlier meeting. The program was explained and then a vote of acceptance was requested concerning the placement of the Idaho students in homes in the state of Idaho. The voting was unanimous upon approval of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve. Foot note 31: The plan for beginning the program of school year ‘65 and ‘66 was also unanimously approved. During the summer of 1964 Mr. Bishop and Mr. Millar, legal counselor for the Idaho agency, met with Mr. Bill Childs, commissioner of the public assistance. Mr. Child expressed enthusiasm for the program and offered his support in getting it established. At this same time, Mr. Millar was drafting articles of incorporation policies and procedures and bylaws which would be necessary to obtain a license to guide Mr. Millar. The Indian Committee decided the following: One, Provo will submit its application seeking approval as a domestic corporation. Two, the Board of [inaudible] will include each of the stake presidents in Idaho, plus a medical advisor and an attorney. Three, an executive board will be appointed consisting of selected members of the Board of Directors who reside in the proximity of the agency office. Four, the name of the agency is to be Idaho Indian 2 Student Placement Program. Five, the central office will be in Pocatello, Idaho; Idaho Falls area, (pause) and most likely Idaho Falls. The footnote [30 minutes?] this meeting called by the church Indian committee concerning the expansion of Indian Student Placement Program into Idaho April 6, 1964, Salt Lake City, Utah in the files of the program. Number six, the program will begin by placing the LDS Indian students from their reservation in and surrounding Idaho in the LDS foster homes with Idaho boarders. Seven, one director, case worker, one additional case worker, and a secretary will be employed to place from 75 to 100 children in the Southeastern portion of Idaho. This area will range from the Utah border to the Rexburg area. Expansion of the staff and students will be made when and where it is deemed advisable. Eight, responsibilities and duties of the Board of Directors will be as defined in the Idaho Department of Public Assistance manual entitled, Children’s Agency and the Children’s Institutions. Nine, there shall be a clause which will allow for the inclusion of other programs which deem advisable. Footnote 32: In January of 1965 an executive Board of Directors was appointed to serve in behalf of the program with Mr. Irwin Wirkus, President of East Idaho Falls Stake. Serving as Chairman of the Board, Mr. Z. Reed Millar was appointed as legal advisor and Dr. Merrill Packer, medical advisor. Thirty-three footnote: At a meeting in Idaho Falls on February 19, 1965 the Board was introduced to Mr. Clearance Tuttle, a newly appointed director of the Idaho agency. This group with the program director decided the following: Mr. Tuttle, who would work from the office in Idaho Falls and other case workers would be assigned. And footnote: Letter to Z. Reed Millar from Clarence R. Bishop, Program Director of Salt Lake City, Utah, December 17, 1964 in [involves the?] Indian Student Placement Program. Thirty-three: Report of the meeting of Idaho Falls with the executive board of the Idaho Board of Directors for the Indian Students Placement Program, February 19, 1965 [involved in the program?]. Mr. Tuttle’s case log will be placed in the stakes between Shelly and Rigby and the other case log will be confined as much as possible to the stakes in the Pocatello area. Footnote 34: April of the same year Mr. William S. Bush was transferred from the Utah agency into the Pocatello area. In May a program office was opened at 131 Higby in Idaho Falls. Preparation continues throughout the summer during the last week of August. One hundred and three students from the North central, northwestern states arrived. The students received physical examinations at the church-owned hospital at Idaho Falls and were placed, as planned, throughout the Idaho Falls and Pocatello area. Footnote 35: During the summer of 1966, Mr. Mark Ricks was employed to supervise a case log in the Twin Falls area, bringing the number of districts in Idaho to three for the school year of ‘66 and ‘67. Again in August the children were processed through the hospital in Idaho Falls with 183 students being processed and placed throughout the three districts. Footnote 36: At this time the program is making preparations for two new placement districts in Idaho for school year ‘67 and ‘68. One of these districts is to be in the Boise area and one in the Preston Soda Springs area. Footnote 37: (Tape cuts out) Footnote 34 is above 35, report to the Indian Committee of Student Enrollment in the school year of ‘65 and ‘66. [The Indian?] Student Placement Program in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah in the files of the program. Thirty- 3 six: Report to Indian Committee of the Student enrollment in the school year ‘66 and ‘67 by the Indian Student Placement Program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City, Utah in files of the program. Thirty-seven: Report of the Indian Committee of the proposed expansion ‘67 and ‘68 to 1971-72 by the Indian Student Placement program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Salt lake City, Utah in the files in the program. HF: We’re met this Sunday afternoon, the 6th of May 1984, in the 4th ward Relief Society room about 4:15 P.M. With us in a circle, as it were, to contribute to the primary subject the Indian Placement Program in the counties of Fremont, Jefferson, and Madison here in Eastern Idaho. Kind of a part of the Idaho Falls district as originally established as a district through the LDS Social Services for this Indian Placement Program. And Mrs. Deanna CoOkay is present, Mrs. Nola Gallup, and Ray -- husband and wife are present -- and they have a guest who has been with the Indian Placement Program, a Mrs. Jessen from Ashton is expected to arrive momentarily. Now, I’m going to ask in turn some questions of a personal nature. Deanna CoOkay, will you state a little something about your own background, you and your husband, where you live, and then end it up with a statement when you first were initiated to the Indian Placement Program. Deanna CoOkay: Okay, I’m Deanna CoOkay. I live in Rigby. I have been involved with the program probably six years and we had a little Indian girl live with us for four years.