Village Sketch
(EDITOR’S NOTE: The Tundra*
Times will print short articles of vil
lages in this and the ensuing issues.
We will try to be as factual as pos
sible, but if we are wrong on some
vital information we want the vil
lages concerned or an authority on
such matters, to get us on the right
track. The number of sketches we
print in each issue will depend on
space available.)
Strategically ideal for a converg
ing area, Kotzebue could not have
escaped this pleasant fate if she had
tried. The rivers and the sea have
her pin-pointed and the only thing
6he must do, and happily so, is to
open her arms and welcome every
one.
The Neatak, Kobuk and Buckland
Rivers course their way into the
Kotzebue Sound within a comfor
table distance of the town. Bering
Sea to the south and Chukchi Sea
to the north afford marine trans
portation routes. In the late spring
of each year hundreds of people
from the interior and the coast come
into Kotzebue. Interior people come
to Kotzebue to do sealing and bel
uga hunting and to do some trad
ing. The coast Eskimos come there
to trade.
Trading
This annual pilgrimage into Kotze
bue has, apparently, been going on
for centuries. We have heard old
timers who have heard their fath
ers relate that their great grand
fathers had traded muktuk for to
bacco there. This is also bourne out
by some ethnologists and historians
who say northern Eskimos have
traded with Siberians and that one
of the sought-after items was to
bacco.
The present day Eskimos do much
the same as their ancestors. But to
day they do not trade for tobacco
but for seal oil and meat. They still
trade bowhead whale muktuk from
Point Hope but the trade medium
has reverted to greenbacks.
Renew Friendship
One of the most pleasant things
about this annual convergence into
Kotzebue is, of course, the love of
the Eskimo to renew acquaintances.
We hope that this fine character
istic will live on forever. We think
that it has an excellent chance of
survival because it is pleasantly
ingrown in every Eskimo.
Much of the economy of Kotze
bue today has been income from
lighterage work. Since the town
is a hub, she handles freight for the
interior villages as well as for her
own. The men trap and hunt cari
bou during the winter. One of the ex
citing periods in Kotzebue is when
the sheefish fishing—fishing through
the ice—begins. That comes in early
winter. The huge, beautiful shee
fish is much relished by towns and
cities all over Alaska as well as
those in the states to the south.
Udall Visits . . .
(Continued from Page 1)
tinuous diligent work and best lia
son between the Interior Depart
ment and the native people of
Alaska.
He added that settlement of native
rights and claims might result from
legislation or might result from
policy determination from the de
partment without legislation.
On other matters:
Udall praised the RCA training
program of Alaska Natives. He said,
“Everyone in Washington from the
President on down” was terrifically
impressed with the program.
Rampart Dam
Though he did not say so in so
many words. Secretary Udall indi
cated in his press conference and
later in his Chamber of Commerce
address that he favors the construc
tion of Rampart Dam. He cited the
terrific strides being made by the
Soviet Union in hydro-electric de
velopment.
He went on to say he didn't think
a subsidy on gold “is in the cards.”
“Japan’s economy is booming and
its timber needs are high,” Udall
said.
“We have wondered if some of the
timber stands in the Rampart Dam
reservoir area could not be cut since
it would be eliminated anyway if
MOVE AHEAD
WITH ED
ELECT
Edmund
(Ed) Orbeck
to the
State House of
Representatives
DEMOCRATIC
CANDIDATE—DIST. 16
Club Sends Toys To Needy Children
For more than 20 years the Fair
banks Women’s Club has engaged
in a warm-hearted venture that has
been rewarding to its members and
brought happiness to native children
in the outlying village in the cen
tral and northern Alaska.
The club sends toys to needy na
tive children every year just before
Christmas.
Throughout much of the year, the
club collects used toys with the as
the Dam were constructed.”
Resources
He opinioned the state would be
better off if some of the timber was
harvested and sold.
He indicated he felt it would be
good if the Japanese would establish
another pulp mill such as it has now
at Sitka.
Udall continued by saying he
backed the stand recently taken by
Governor William A. Egan in disal
lowing Japanese fishermen to in
trude in Alaska waters.
“The State Department is tradi
tionally highly sensitive,” he said.
“The report I filed with the com
mittee was in flat disagreement
with the stand the state department
took on that issue."
sistance of boy scouts. Fairbanks
City Firemen repair and mend the
toys.
Mrs. Ruth Guthrie, president of
the club, requests the needy villages
to write in to her the first part of
October. Native mothers are asked
to write in such things as the num
ber of children in their families and
so on.
“Some of the letters we receive
are simply wonderful," Mrs. Guthrie
said.
After the letters arrive, work
begins . . . lots of it. Fifteen to
twenty women are kept busy during
their free time, packing and sending
packages. The packages have to be
sent around the first part of No
vember to assure the delivery of
toys before Christmas.
Enthusiasm of the club members
in the project “rubs” off on others.
Many companies and Government
agencies assist without charge in
delivering the toys. These include
Wien Alaska Airlines, Alaska Air
lines, Alaska Railroad, Alaska State
[ Police and Army and Air Force per
I sonnel.
Needy villages are again re
quested to write: Mrs. Ruth Guthrie,
1 1464^ Noble- St., Fairbanks, Alaska.
BIA Assumes |
Mt. Edgecumbe
Dining Program
The Bureau of Indian Affairs has
taken over the feeding program for
660 students at Mt. Edgecumbe
Boarding School, a program con
tracted to the U. S. Public Health
Service for the past seven years.
“The quality and quantity of food
has always been on the highest level
under the U.S. Public Health Serv
ice,” said Robert L. Bennett, BIA
area director.
But Bennett indicated the pro
gram was switched to a BIA re
sponsibility on July 1 of this year
to accomplish the following advan
tages:
1. The staff could be reduced and
money saved for other neglected
areas of boarding school operation.
2. Work loads could be adjusted
by direct supervision of personnel.
3. The program could provide real
experiences for the high school
cooking class.
4. Care could be taken in individ
ual and specific needs to students.
5. A greater correlation between
the educational and feeding pro
grams could be achieved. '
CONGRATULATIONS, TUNDRA TIMES
on filling the long need for a newspaper for the Native people of 1
Alaska. I heartily endorse the opportunity for direct communication
with your readers!
As your Congressman, I have worked diligently for legislation which will help
outlying communities. I have worked for the passage of the Barrow Gas Bill which
has authorized the Navy to drill a well at Barrow. It will make natural gas available to
that community of more than 1400 residents. The previous Republican administration
did nothing to help the citizens in that community to get access to the available gas
and other fuels In and about Barrow.
Through my efforts and the efforts of Senators Ernest Gruening and E. L. (Bob)
Bartlett, the Townaite Law was passed. This will allow many villages now on lands
having mineral classification to become incorporated communities. It will enable the
residents of these communities to acquire title to the land on which their homes and
businesses are located.
I pledge my continued assistance to the betterment of the outlying communities
and would very much appreciate your vote in the November 6 election.
u> «• • . -
t ' ' '
RE-ELECT RALPH J. RIVERS
DEMOCRAT
to the
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
(Pd. Pol. Adv.)
SEARS ROEBUCK AND COMPANY OF FAIRBANKS
Two Offices to Serve You
FOR THE EVERYDAY THINGS YOU WANT, YOU CAN BUY
FROM SEARS CATALOGS AND JUST SAY . .
"Charge It"
SHOP IN PERSON • SHOP BY PHONE • SHOP BY MAIL
"Satisfaction Guaranteed or Your Money Back"
\ .. I * A,r, r
Sears Sears
South Fairbanks v
MB Itlfc Amt, t5?w5i
GLMW OLMMI
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