Government Order Mandating forced haircuts of Indigenous people (1902)

Government Order Mandating forced haircuts of Indigenous people (1902)

Government Mandate
William Atkinson Jones
Indigenous peoples

Black and White official copy of Letter send by William Atkinson Jones, Commissioner of Indian Affairs to superintendents of all federal reservations, dated January 1902. Commonly referred to as the ‘Haircut order’. Within the letter Jones refers objects to Indigenous peoples wearing their hair long in order to partake in ceremonial tribal dances, on the grounds that it promotes ‘degrading acts’ and prevents advancements of aboriginal groups to becoming civilized. This letter highlights the extent of mistreatment and disregard of Indigenous people’s rights and the disregard for cultural tradition and valued. Further it demonstrates the perceptions of aboriginal peoples and the marginalization of native traditions as a consequence of European dominance

William Atkinson Jones, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, January 1902

The Slate Histories

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_vault/2013/08/20/haircut_order_commissioner_jones
_letter_demanding_that_supervisors_force.html

January 1902

Salma Latifi

CA. National Archives, Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs

English

Textual - typed letter

20th century British Columbia