tween 1933 and 1942, the Indian Emergency Conservation Work program employed 85,000 Native Americans and it brought about substantial conservation improvements on reservation lands. The IECW constructed 9,737 miles of truck trails, 12,230 miles of fences, 91 lookout towers and 1,742 dams and reservoirs. Over one million acres of Indian land benefited from pest control projects. In addition, 263,129 acres of grazing and farming lands were aided by programs to eradicate poisonous weeds. John Collier’s work with the Secretary of Agriculture led to a tremendous expansion in Indian-owned cattle herds. From 1933 to 1939, the number of Native Americans owning cattle increased 8,627 to 16,624 and the size of their herds more than doubled. Under New Deal policies, total income of Indian livestock increased from $2,087,000 to $5,859,000. An important aspect of Collier’s policies was that it emphasized livestock production. Unlike past policies that tried to turn Indians into farmers, an occupation they were far less suited too. As previously noted, Collier was very successful at working with other government entities in providing economic aid to Native Americans. The Department of War provided 35,000 trousers, 33,000 shirts, 40,000 coats, 176,00 pairs of socks and 24,000 pairs of shoes to destitute Native Americans. During the winter of 1934, the CWA employed 4,423 Indians to repair tribal buildings, dig water wells, manufacture clothing and perform clerical work. In addition, the CWA commissioned artists and craftspeople to decorate various government buildings. The PWA employed Native Americans to build day schools, hospitals, roads, irrigation systems and sewer systems on several reservations. The program promoted tribal culture by hiring Indian artists to paint murals on several Department of Interior buildings. Through the WPA, over 10,000 Native Americans were hired annually to perform office work for the Bureau of Indian Affai...
