Luck of Education Is
One Cause of Problems
By W. B. Fredson
CHALKYITSIK (Special) — One
of the unique problems that exists
among our village leaders is the
lack of a formal high school edu
cation. Quite a number of village
leaders have not gone beyond the
I third grade. This is the primary
reason why many of the problems
F and situations that exist now remain
problems and situations in many
of the native villages anjl among
the native people of Alaska.
Progress in this vital area of so
cial development is slow, but never
the less progress is being made. Us
ing the words of BIA Area Di
rector, Robert L. Bennett, who said
in his speech at the Tanana Chief’s
Conference last June, “You can
point with pride at the one hund
red and eighteen native boys and
girls that graduated from Mt. Edge
cumbe and the two that graduated
from the University of Alaska last
spring."
The recent meeting of the Yukon
Flats area village leaders was a big
step forward towards understand
ing more fully the problems and
situations that exist in the villages
and among the native people of this
area. While nothing was resolved
and there is no formal organiza
tion, another meeting will be held
the first week in February to for
mally organize and to take con
structive action on some of the big
ger problems that are confronting
the native people in the Yukon
Flats area.
The following is a report on the
conditions that exist in the village
of Chalkyitsik which was read to
the delegates at the Ft. Yukon meet
ing:
Chalkyitsik. Alaska, located 45
miles east of Ft. Yukon!on the Black
River. The population is 74, with
19 school age children and 14 pre
school age children. These figures
are for school year 1962/63.
The following situations would
describe the conditions in Chalkit
sik as it is now.
Ninety-five percent of the people
are unemployed. Most of the un
employed are not covered by un
employment compensation.
Most of the labor force is unskill
ed and uneducated. There are how
ever some good laborers and car
penters in the village.
The economy is seasonal, with
; most of the income earned by the
low income gioups, dependent on
short seasons and variable condi
tions.
Housing is sub-standard in re
gards to space, heating, and sani
tary conditions.
[Medical care and related facilities
in case of an emergency is not pro
vided for. There are no medically
trained personnel in the village.
Community facilities and ser
vices are non-existent. No roads,
boardwalks, fire protection, water
supply, other than the river, sew
age disposal and recreational fa
cilities are available.
The village is too small to per
mit any business establishment to
open due to the high shipping rates
and high percenage of necessities
needed.
Recommendations For Development
Two major factors that would
help the development of Chalkyit
sik are, low cost power and ade
quate financing. Many other factors
are of almost equal importance,
however the provision of low cost
power and adequate financing
would make our other problems
easier to solve.
More of the basic necessities of
the local populace should be pro
duced here. The high percentage of
needed food, building matJSriaM,
and fuel contribute significantly to
* the low standard of living that ex
ist here at Chalkyitsik.
The wealth of raw materials should
be utilized for local consumption
and export wherever practical.
These materials should be made
into finished products if possible.
This would have the beneficial ef
fect of bringing needed cash into
Chalkyitsik.
A sawmill should be installed to
provide for the timber industry.
Lumber, logs and other timber pro
ducts can be made available to im
prove the existing homes and to
build new houses. These materials I
can be partially or completely pro- !
cessed into finished products for
sale. Such items as house logs, lum
ber, sleds, toboggans, and other
products can be made to be sold.
A community barge and launch can
be made to haul freight.
A well should be dug and in
stalled at a centrally located point
to provide for a safe water supply.
Heavy equipment should be
brought in to clear land. This would
provide for a large community gar
den for vegetables to be consumed
locally. This equipment would fur
ther provide means for an effective
flood control. A small swampy area
in the center of the village can be
filled in and the area used for re
creational purposes.
Local Resources Available
The local resources available con
sist of three chain saws, a few hand
tools and man power. Nothing else.
In June of 1962 the village of
Chalkyitsik was granted a sum of
money from the Rural Development
Agency. With this money a com
munity hall was built. It however is
still unfinished, needing doors,
flooring, and windows. The existing
pathways were improved through
out the village and to the air strip.
The air strip was brushed out along
both sides and at one end.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs in
stalled a small transmitter and re
ceiver for emergency communica
tions. They also provided a water
pump and hose for the family gar
dens, and the 4-H garden plots.
The village council has filed an
application for a townsite with the
Bureau of Land Management. The
application is still pending.
Work projects for the past sum
mer consisted of building a road to j
and making a place for the village i
dump.
Two new homes were built and j
one family moved to Chalkyitsik
adding to the population. Four and j
possibly five new homes are plan
ned for next season.
The village council was awarded
a contract to improve the existing
air field with State provided equip
ment.
The village of Chalkyitsik has
been promised a chain saw type
sawmill to be delivered in the near |
future.
Plans for a new school to be built |
next summer have been made by j
the Bureau of Indian Affairs for the i
village of Chalkyitsik.
The program for development |
would require Govermental assist- !
ance and cooperation. The major
handicaps and obstacles confront
ing the people of Chalkyitsik are
beyond their ability to overcome
without the cooperative, coordinat
ed efforts of government agencies,
community organizations, and lead
ers, and private business interests.
CUFF'S BARBER SHOP
^llRhSd’SooRry* *
423 2nd Ave.
Fairbanks, Alaska
Cliff Cundy
SKINS
Lowest prices for all your skin needs
Rabbit, calf, wolverine, wolf, etc.
Write for free price list.
JONAS BROS. OF ALASKA
1507-12th Ave. Seattle 22, Wn.
Watch Winners
Last year there were only two
children at Point Hope who didn’t
develop new cavities in their
teeth. Daniel Lisbourne, president
of the council, council members.
Dr. Robert Lathrop and Frank N.
Hall, principal teacher, decided they
would hold a year-long dental con
test.
The council happily announced
that it would award a watch to each
child who didn’t develop new cavi
ties.
Not long ago, Dr. Lathrop, Public
Health Service dentist at Kotzebue
PHS Hospital, came to Point Hope
with his wife, a dental assistant, on
one of their annual visits to check
the children's teeth.
What the doctor found must have
astounded him somewhat and the i
village council as well. Dr. Lathrop i
found that 17 children had not de
veloped new cavities. Obligated, the
council had to shell out about $100
to pay for the watches. They sent
for them from West Germany.
The children had been constant
ly reminded during the year by
their principal teacher. Frank Hall.
So they brushed and brushed their
teeth for twelve months and the
result was a whopping increase in
percentage of no cavities over last
year.
The moral of this would seem to |
de: Don't ever underestimate the;
power of a child because once he
makes up his mind, he will brush
his teeth for a whole year to win
a prize.
Names Drawn
For Presents
Elim is a Norton Sound
Eskimo Village
By ANNA SACCHEES
ELIM (Special)—The local peo
ple have drawn names for Christ
mas. In other words, a adult draws I
a name and the name he or she
draws, he or she gives a present to
the person he drew.
The weather has been very cold
in the past month but as of now I
the ground is bare of snow which ;
is unusual for this time of year.
So far our thermometer has dropped
to 23 degrees below, which is aw
fully cold.
For the past weeks the local men
have been working on Work Pro
ject No. 4 which is constructing an
all purpose shop, such as; council
room, or any other small activity
room.
The men were laid off one week
because of the death of President
Kennedy and the Thanksgiving
Holiday.
Abraham Anasogak, of Koyuk,
was a visitor He arrived via his
dog team. He visited his friends and
left the next day.
Joseph Murray, who works for j
the Unalakleet FAA arrived and
spent the Thanksgiving with his
family.
There arc five men who have
set traps for fur animals and a few
minks and martens and one wolver
ine were caught.
Adler's Bookshop
Out-of-town orders solicited
and filled promptly
Box 1159, Fairbanks
CONSTRI CTION AND
GENERAL LABORERS
Local 942, AF of L
dmund N. Orbeck, President
Joel Wiegert
Secretary-Treasurer
305 Noble St
feetinps Every 2nd Friday
7:30 P.M.
Hal GL 6-4582
ms ■■ in ; m&zt&i-jmm&itmhM!f.«* -2.«wb
WATCH WINNERS WEAR WINNING SMILES—17 bright fared
Point Hope youngsters arc seen proudly displaying the watches they
had won after a year long contest to see who would develop no new
cavities in his teeth. The contest was arranged by Daniel Lisbourne,
president of the council, and his council members and Doctor Robert
Eathrop, Public Health Service dentist, at thctK otzebue Native Hos
pital. The village council bought the watches from West Germany.
University Museum Now
Reopened in New Area '
The University of Alaska Mu
seum reopened yesterday.
“Since the Museum closed in
September, we have moved all the
displays and some of the anthropo
logical collections to our new loca
tion in the old University gymna
sium,” Museum Director Lou Row
inski explained. “The gym has
been remodeled to provide increased
display space and much more work
area for the Museum staff and
classes using the Museum. One of
the biggest advantages to the new
location," Rovvinski added, "is that!
it is on the ground floor and much,
more accessable.”
Members of the Museum staff and
volunteers have been busy prepar
ing for the past several weeks.
New displays have been construct
ed and arranged in groups for
easier viewing. These groups in
clude Interior Indians. Indians of
Southeastern Alaska. Eskimos, ani
mals and birds, archaelogy, and pal
eontology. H
WIEN ALASKA AIRLINES
KOTZEBUE ,)uily cx- Sun
* (Noatak-Kivalina-Pt. llope
C'ape Lisburnet . Mon., Wed., Fri.
*(Noorvik-Kiana-Selawik) lues., I buv„ . at.
’"(Shungnak-Kobuk-Ambler) Sat.
’"(Buckland) . lues., T/iur.
NOME Daily e\. Sun.
* (White Mountain-Golovin-Elim
Moses I’t.-Koyukl Mo”-, Vl'ed.. I n,
::(Shaktoolik-Unalakleet) >Ion., iri.
'MTeller-Brevig Mission- Port Clarcnce
Tin C'ity-Wales-Shismaref) lues., Tliur., Sat.
•'(Granite Mtn-Candle-Decring) lues.. Sat.
’MGambell) . * “•
FORT YUKON men., wen.. r«.
’"(Rampart-Tanana) Ion
■"(Venetie-Arctic Village) . Tues., Sat.
*(Old Crow) . Hurd lues.
* (I'halkyitsik-Shunian House—Canyon Village) Frl
* i Birch Creek) 1 u<"’
PT. BARROW-UMIAT Daily ex, Sun.
"(Wainwright) Mon- VVcd" f rL
’" IPt. Lay) ''ed
‘"(Meade River) IUC'
*(Coleville) 1st A 3rd Thur.
rj< ^ Daily px, Sun.
HUGHES Tues., Thur.. Sat.
’"(Utopia) (also served out of Betties, see below lues., Sat.
BFTTLES ncs.t Thur., Sat.
*(Utopia-Allakaket-Ilughes) Tues.. Thurs., Sat.
* (Wiseman-Chamlalar) Mon.
iPorcupine Creek) Once per month on YYctl., contlitions permitting
* (Anaktuvik Pass) ■ "®d‘
GALENA Mon., Wed.. Fri.
(Koyukuk-Nulato-Kaltag) Mon., Wed., lhur., Fri.
(Ruby-Kalakaket) . Mon., Tues. Wed., Fri.. Sat.
’• iKokrines)
CIRCLE HOT SPKINGS-CIKCLE Mo"" ,ul!'
RAMPART . lues. I ri.
LIVENGOOD —• • *rl
WOODCHOPPER F,i*S st°P on T“E*
CHICKEN . rl. f/!'
MINTO-MANLEY HOT SPRINGS Tues., Fri
CHENA HOT SPRINGS "e“
UTOPIA-HUGHES-HOG ATZA-KOBUK
KIANA-KOTZEBUE ",et*
EAGLE rucs- Fr‘
CHARTERS available anywhere utilizing the following equipment:
Cessna 180, Cessna 185, Pilatus Porter. Beaver, Twin Becehcrart,
DC-3, Super 46, F-27, DC-4. We invite your inquiry.
“"NOTE: Connections are made with bush aircraft
to communities in parenthesis.
WIENALASKAAIRLINES
’3rd Ave. & Lacey Street PHONE: 453-3555, 453-311a
Hours—8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Mon. thru Fri.
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sat.