Boarding School and Land Allotment Eras 1879-1933

1917

Texas banker appointed Commissioner of Indian Affairs

Cato Sells. Image: Library of Congress
Cato Sells. Image: Library of Congress

Cato Sells, appointed by President Woodrow Wilson, sets up “competency commissions” and issues titles to land to “qualified allottees” without waiting for Indians to apply for them. As a result, fraud is rampant; when Indians receive 160 acres and full control of individual monies from the tribal treasury, they soon lose both to swindlers and real estate barons (Nies, 1996).

Traumatic Event