The Beeah
Tribe

RECENTLY anthropologists, who are dedicated
to keeping the Indian alive if for no other reason than they can make money
studying him, discovered a new tribe.
This newly discovered group is known as the Beeah
Tribe (pronounced BIA Tribe). A new book, A Man Called Horse S___,
by Dr. He-Sells-Out, beloved Indian expert, has been released by the Association
on Preserving the Cute Ways of Brown People.
The book describes the strange rites and rituals
of this much persecuted tribe. Torn from their ancestral homes on Fifth
Avenue in New York City to far flung agencies around the country, the Beeah
Tribe is held together by its function of running the affairs of all other
tribes.
Incantations such as "Let me refer you to this other
office," and "I'll look into that," are invoked daily to magically free
oneself from harassment by people asking questions such as, "I'm hungry,
what can I do?"
The chief is appointed by the President of the United
States and all members are ranked from GS-1 to GS-18. The lowest ranking
members are usually those who belong to other tribes as well as to the
Beeah Tribe.
The daily rituals of the tribe are graphically described.
These include one hour coffee breaks, 100 dollars a day consulting fees,
the fee-propped-up-desk-cigar-in-mouth ritual, being photographed holding
an Indian child, buck passing, and back slapping.
Dr. He-Sells-Out, in one of his more revelatory
findings, has noted that the Beeah Tribe exists only at the expense of
other Tribes. It cannot seem to live unless it has drained the other Tribes'
human and natural resources and has sapped its leadership and initiative.
In the language of the Beeah Tribe this is known as "community development"
(pronounced "rob-ber-ry").
Needless to say, the mind of the Beeah Tribe is
mystifying to outsiders.
With a straight face a member of the Beeah Tribe
will say that Indian religion and dances are bad and should be eradicated.
But if you can find some white people to charge other white people to see
you perform them, it is all right. Or, they will say that every Indian
should be educated; but once educated he should not be given a job that
his education merits.
This is a warlike tribe in constant conflict with
other tribes. Occasionally, through incompetence the Beeah Tribe does something
the other tribes like but these lapses are quickly corrected.
We thank Dr. He-Sells-Out for his valuable contribution
to Knowledge we already know.