t ■ .
i Let's Do Things for Ourselves
By MARTHA TEELVK
Contributing Editor
We extend a hearty welcome to
the principal readers of our paper,
the Natives of Alaska.
The need for a means of communi
cation and exchange of ideas among
all Alaskan natives was expressed
at the Inupigt Paitot Conference in
Barrow last year.
Sketch
Diomede Island
This audicious little Island is lo
cated 22 miles southwest of Cape
Prince of Wales out in the middle of
Bering Straits. It is located 3 miles
from the Big Diomede Island that
is the possession of Soviet Russia.
Little Diomede is mile and a half
from the Russian territorial waters.
For a long, long time, perhaps
centuries, the inhabitants of the two
islands visited with one another.
They intermarried. Little Diomeders
have cousins on Big Diomede and
vice versa.
Things went on pretty much as
usual until suddenly, in 1948, Soviet
Army men siezed 18 Little Dio
meders. They were held for 52 days
and were subjected to intense inter
rogations.
Barely Fed
They were fed just barely enough
to keep them alive, some black
bread and thin soup. Terribly
emaciated, they were finally re
leased. When they returned, their
worried villagers could not be
lieve what they saw.
Thus ended the peaceful relation
ship between the islands. It is very
doubtful that they will ever regain
the former goodwill status. Trying
to argue with a Godless nation is
like trying to reason with a fanatic.
Very much like King Island, Little
Diomede depends on the sea for live
lihood.
Again this summer, the same de
gee was vetoed at the Chief's Con
ference held in Tanana. The idea has
now materialized into this first edi
tion of the Tundra Times.
We hope that you, the reading
audience, responds as enthusiastic
ally to the idea as we who have laid
the foundations for this newspaper.
This is a publication by Alaskan
natives for Alaska natives, end its
success will depend on all of us,
Indians, Eskimos and Aleuts, unit
ing in an honest effort to under
stand ourselves and our problems
better. We cannot hope to solve our
problems unless we know what they
are, and the main purpose of our
paper is to inform each other.
We can do things for ourselves.
Our forefathers certainly proved it,
and although we face problems now
which are entirely different from
theirs, it’s time we recaptured the
heritage of self-reliance which they
left us.
It’s nice to have help, and we will
continue to need help in many areas,
but too much help will weaken us.
We have community leaders who are
capable, but we need proper recog
nition to work effectively. We must
learn to think for ourselves in de
termining our place in this state and
nation.
We urge you to make contribu
tions to the paper on anything of
interest to you which you think
would appeal to our readers. We
want your opinions about the paper,
hoping for your approval, but per
haps more important, we want your
criticism.
If you have opinions on current
iaaue6 (and we hope you do), please
send them in. Our problems will be
less confusing and more profitably
solved for everyone if needs are
made known. Understanding goes
hand in hand with knowledge.
Remember, this is your news
paper. Let’s hear from you!
Eskimo Fad . . .
(Continued from Page 1)
Many Uses
And Eskimo have many uses for
the machines.
They use the machine for record
ing dances, ceremonies, meetings,
for sending messages back and
forth between villages. Tapes are
even exchanged with Eskimo vil
lages in Canada.
Similar to a radio announcer, Es
kimo people identify persons begin
ning a dance, describe their ges
tures, and so on.
Pt. Hope and Pt. Barrow have de
veloped a quite active exchange of
legend tapes. A village will pick out
an interesting legend and the best
story, teller for recording.
Said Eskimo school teacher Fred
Ipalook, of Barrow, “The tapes get
so interesting. I can hardly wait un- !
til the next tape arrives.”
At one village the whaling cele- i
bration is recorded.
The remarks of the successful
whaling captains as they tradition
ally pass out slices of whale flippers
is recorded for history.
Important council meetings are
taped as was the Inupiat Paitot con
ference last November at Barrow.
When Atomic Energy Commission
Officials held a meeting about a
year ago at Pt. Hope in regard to
Project Chariot, two tape machines
were going full blast.
Eskimo people, even of old age,
know how to operate the recorders.
They can rewind and erase, change
spools, adjust volume controls, can
splice tape, and many can even re
pair machines if they break down.
Some have catalogs for ordering
spare parts. Most tape recorder
owners keep a large supply of tape
on hand.
Dbctm Brands
So avid is their interest that they
even discuss brands of recorders,
which brands are best, and stero
phonic sound. ,
Many individual Eskimos carry on
correspondence with each other via
tape. They -tell each other about
hunting, how many whales, seals,
walrus, or caribou they have gotten.
They tell about births, deaths, and
marriages and about someone who
has obtained a good job or seasonal
employment.
"I don’t write English very well
and can think much better in Eski
mo,” said one tape letter writer.
“When an Eskimo listens to a let
ter in hjs language, it means so
much more. Somehow, much is lost
in translation," he added.
How's This For Progress . . .
Alaska's first elected state government has
launched the first real program for devel
opment of rural areas in Alaska’s history.
• More than one hundred communities helped through rural
development program.
• Drainage systems, sidewalks, community buildings, floats,
well houses, bus stop shelters constructeu.
• Comprehenive program to provide rural school children
with adeguae educational opportunities devolped.
• Bush airports, waters and harbor projects constructed.
• Pioneer access roads pushed into valuable resource areas.
HERE IS A RESPONSIBLE PROGRAM TO
IMPROVE A LONG-NEGLECTED
AREA OF ALASKA LIFE
On Nov. C vote for the man who has provided Alaska
with sound, progressive leadership
WILLIAM A. EGAN
The Man You Can Trust
—sponsored and paid for by Egan for Governor Committee
- •
' r v-.-.
VOTE AGAINST BROKEN PROMISE SI!
Think of the things you have been promised-for years and years-by the Democrats.^Each
time an election is held they make new promises to you. VOTE AGAINST these promise
breakers. Vote for candidates who honestly state they will represent YOU!
VOTE FOR SI STEVENS FOR U.S. SENATOR
TED
STEVENS
For U.8. Senator
STEVENS b for immediate action by Congress to recognise the rights of
all Alaskan Natives (Congress in 1884 reserved the right to
determine the means by which Alaskan Natives could receive
the title to their land*—78 years have passed without action,
nesnite his claim of years of service the incumbent has done
nothing to help you!!
wants positive action to develop year around job opportunities
STEVENS for all Alaskans.
supported this Resolution, adopted by the Republican Party
STEVENS in Convention on September 15, 1988:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED
that the Republican Party of Alaska will protect and preserve
the rights of all Native people of Alaska—Indians, Eskimos,
and Aleuts—will guarantee to them all the rights and responsi
bilities of American cltisenship; will act to prevent the involun
tary dislocation or relocation of any Alaskans, Native or nen
Native without due process of law; will act to insure a program
of training or retraining which will provide Jobs and a living
wage, and secure for the Alaska Natives, without charge, title
to the land upon which they are living or earn their livelihood.
VOTE FOR A CHANGE
STEVENS needs your vole. You need lXl Stevens
in the U.S. Senate. Vote Republican in 1962.
(Paid Political Adv.)