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“The Eskimo-Indian All-Alaska Newspaper” _
Owned rout rolled and edited by Tundra Times. Inc., a corporation of Alaska
natives. Published at Fairbanks. Alaska, twice monthly._
' Address all mall to Box 1287. Fairbanks, Alaska. Telephone GL 2-2244.__
Tundra Times. Inc;,' publisher'.Howard Rook. Martha Teehik. and Alfred KeUleri;
HOWARD ROCK, editor; Thomas SnaUP. assistant ;. Vlvl*“ ,
"anaser; contributing editors. Guy Okakok. Martha Tecluk, and Aided Ketiler.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES .. _ ,
6 months $ 2.50
Regular Mail, Slate ... j, 3'™
Mailed to Other States . ® h g JJ
Air Mall to States . « vm“"thS
Shortage of Wives . . •
(Continued from Page 1)
One reason why the young ladies are leaving home
is the economic problems in the villages. Very few mar
riagable young men have jobs to support themselves, let
alone wives. But the few who become employed, find the
field for choosing a mate extremely limited.
If these men had jobs, there is a good chance that
the young women would think twice before leaving for
greener pastures, or what they think are greener pastures.
The above situation was bourne out by a missionary
who has spent many years in native villages. He pointed
out, "I performed only one marriage ceremony there in
the last five years."
It is difficult for the Tundra Times to offer a solution
to the problem. It can point out, however, that in many
marriages between native girls and non-native boys the
bonds of matrimony are not always secure. In more times
than not, on the part of the non-native husband, the novel
ty of having a native wife seems to wear thin in a few
years.
The inevitable takes place. The marriage breaks up
and the desertepl wives are then left in most pitiful circum
stances. Clamour is gone and they are reduced to a rueful
and sad state.
There are exceptions, of course. Some of these mar
riages are highly successful and result in happiness and
rearing of fine children. Nevertheless the percentage of
the positive side is small.
What is the answer? The Tundra Times does not pre
tend to be a sociologist. It would like to suggest that jobs
be made available to the unfortunate young men in vil
lages so they can partake of the blessing of marriage and
go into the business of living a more natural life.
Fine Response
When the Tundra Times started publishing on Octo
ber 1, 1962, its staff could not help but feel a little appre
hensive.
There were many questions with unknown answers.
Now as the paper prints its fifth issue, some of these
questions have' been answered. Now the staff can say,
with pride, that the reception o fthe Tundra Times by the
public, both in Alaska and in the lower states, has been
most gratifying.
The response to it by natives of Alaska, for whom it
was primarily planned, has been more than expected. This
response was illustrated by the very fine remarks in its
favor by delegates at the recent Inupiat Paitot meetinq in
Kotzebue.
Tundra Times is confident that this interest will con
tinue to grow with the ensuing issues.
Many fine letters received by the paper from people
in Alaska and from the lower states have been most en
couraging. Some of these wonderful letters have been
printed in past issues and in fine response, the Tundra
Times is getting a steady stream of subscriptions. It may
seem a bit greedy for wanting more of them, but at the
same time we feel they are most necessary in order to
make the paper successful. We need a large circulation list
in order to sell advertising.
If you enjoy the paper and find it informative, why
not get on the Tundra Times bandwagon and subscribe
today.
NORTH STAR
AWARD
(In each issue, the Tundru
Times will single out for a North
Star award one who has made an
outstanding accomplishment or
done a meritorious act.)
Alaska is certainly the most scenic
of fifty states and it is little wonder
that tourism is increasing and ex
pected to skyrocket in the years
ahead. At the present tourism is con
fined mostly to the summer season
but as time passes, with the devel
opment of winter sports and in
creased tourist accommodations, a
winter tourist trade for Alaska
should emerge.
Already there is much interest
and enthusiasm by tourists in see
ing the beauty of Alaska during the
winter. One of the reasons for in
terest is magnificent photographs
printed in publications in the lower
states and around the world of
Alaska's natural beauty during win
ter.
In one area, a science professor
at the University of Alaska has been
responsible for almost single-hand
edly publicizing one of the great
spectacles of the 49th state—the
northern lights.
His interest, fortitude, and in
genuity in capturing for worldwide
distribution the phenomenal beauty
of the aurora is indeed a great in
Victor P. Hessler of the University
Victor P. Hessler of the University
of Alaska goes the Tundra Times
fifth North Star award along with
our congratulations.
Eskimo Poem
Tigara
By Howard Weyahok
Ah. Tigara! Thy being is an endur
ing monument
Painfully wrought by unending
struggle against odds so great
That only a race of granite nerve
could sustain theee!
Ah, but, tribulations molded a na
ture in they people
So pleasantly unique in all the
world.
They love their fellow man.
They love thee, O Tigara!
They have woven rich heritage in
thy being,
Heritage inter-laced with pain,
grief, tears, and laughter,
Heritage blessed with a smile of
God.
Ah, Tigara! Grim though they be,
thy suroundings!
Pray ye, let mortals reflect upon
thy awesome beauties.
Aye, Tigara, for there is stirring
fascination
In thy wild, swirling blizzards;
In the .incredible stillness of thy
bitter cold;
In the sweeping and screaming of
thy gales;
In the rumbling crescendo of the
giant waves;
In the shifting, ridging icefields.
Alcoholism Ranks
In Top Diseases
Alcoholism ranks among the four
major diseases, along with cancer,
mental illness and heart disease.
Governor William A. Egan made
this statement this week in citing
the National Council on Alcoholism
for its noteworthy achievement in
alerting the public to the danger of
alcoholism.
Governor Egan also proclaimed
the week of November 28-Decem
ber 1 as Alcoholism Information
Week for Alaska.
In doing" so, he pointed out more
than 5,000,000 Americans are afflict
ed with the disease, alcoholism.
“The cost of alcoholism in human
suffering, in disintegration of fami
ly life, in economic attrition to the
individual and the community is
incalculable,' he said.
Guest Editorial
Stone Tools ]
We have been perusing with interest a reprint of an
article, “Stone Artifacts of Southeastern Alaska" by Edward
L. Keithahn, from the July 1962, issue of American An
tiquity, just published. The long-ago use of 25 stone arti
facts is discussed, including adzes, mauls, hammers, mor
tars and pestles, almps and pipes, clubs and fighting
tools, projectile points, and ornaments, examples of which
are in the Alaska Museum here and in local private col
lections.
We learn that the Indians of this region obtained iron
for tool-making at least 175 years ago, so use of stone tools
is almost certainly beyond the memory of any living per
son. In earlier times, however, many stone tools were used
—perhaps for such purposes as chipping away the charcoal
when hollowing out big logs for dugout canoes, for felling
trees, for chipping wood, for driving piles, for making
steps in ice while goat hunting, and for many other pur
poses in hunting, fishing, and utilization of timber, activi
ties characteristic of this area from ancient times.
If is fascinating what artifacts can tell of ways of life
which have been forgotten. While specific artifacts tell
specifically of particular groups of people and how they
lived, worked, hunted, fished and fought, we should all
recognize that humanity in general utilized stone for in
numerable purposes before discovering materials which,
for varying reasons, better served our purposes. It is un
fortunate, we think, that we forget so quickly and com
pletely the ways of our ancestors. They can teach us much,
maybe not along directly practical lines but as to the rela
tionship of mankind with nature, the earth and the
heavens, which relationship is practical indirectly as re
lated to the problem of human happiness.
The question persists even today, as to whether faster
and easier ways of doing things add to the sum of happi
ness—which, deny it though we might, is yet the most valid
test of any civilization or culture. Individuals today have
largely lost the close and direct relationship with, and feel
ing for elemental forces of the universe, and it is possible
we are poorer rather than richer for having done so.
Articles like Mr.| Keithahn's help us to regain perspec
tive in our position as related to the sum of life upon the
earth, some of the true understanding we have lost. —Daily
Alaska Empire, Juneau, November 28, 1962
Alcoholism
In proclaiming November 26-December 1, as Alco
holism Information Week in the State of Alaska, Governor
William A. Egan has focussed our attention to the problem
that should be pursued with renewed energy and dedi
cation.
"The cost of alcoholism in human suffering, in disin
tegration of family life, in economic attrition to the indi
vidual and the community is incalculable," the Governor
stated.
As a grave health threat, to both body and mind,
alcoholism is a very real one as far as the natives of Alaska
are concerned.
The responsible community leaders in native villages
and towns should take particular note of the Governors
forceful statement. They should take steps to try to help
solve the disturbing problem.
Alcoholism is one of the world's great problems
which no one hopes to solve overnight.
Even modest steps toward helping others to solve
the scourge would seem reasonable.
Many times modest beginnings have a habit of de
veloping into strength.
Legal Assistance
Two Fairbanks attorneys this week volunteered to
defend native men charged with game offenses. One man,
who has eight children, through error, struck a cow moose
instead of a bull moose while hunting. Another is charged
with hunting eider ducks without a stamp and out of sea
son.
The Tundra Times wishes to commend these two non
native attorneys for assisting natives in solving one of the
most perplexing problems of the Arctic.