West Coast - Get Kids Into Survey’s Post

Alice Fletcher was an individual with a sharp, analytical mind and a strong intellectual curiosity, particularly in the fields of archaeology and cultural studies. She extensively studied the characteristics of various people and their interrelations. Her academic pursuits were further supported by Frederic Ward Putnam, the director of Harvard’s Peabody Museum. By 1878, Fletcher had embarked on archaeological fieldwork, focusing on American Indian remains in Florida and Massachusetts. In 1881, she expanded her research to Nebraska, where she studied Native American culture, specifically living among the Omaha tribe. This immersive experience led Fletcher to a deep commitment to improving the welfare of Native Americans. Recognizing the threat of land loss to the Omaha, as had befallen many tribes before them, Fletcher took decisive action. In 1882, she traveled to Washington, D.C., where she drafted a bill aimed at allocating Omaha tribal lands into individual holdings, known as allotments. Her lobbying efforts were instrumental in the passage of the bill in Congress. Subsequently, President Arthur appointed her to oversee the distribution of these lands. Working alongside Francis La Flesche, a young clerk in the Indian Bureau, Fletcher successfully apportioned 75,931 acres into 54 allotments for 1,194 Omaha people by 1884. Through this landmark project, Alice Fletcher became the first American female surveyor, solidifying her place as a pioneer in both archaeology and Native American advocacy. #landsurvyeor #surveyorsweek #histroy