Alaska Students Praise
New Mexico Art Center
Eighteen talented Alaska native
students are studying art at the In
stitute of American Indian Arts at
Santa Fe, New Mexico.
The Alaskans are among 73 boys
and 60 girls, or a total of 133 stu
dents, representing 19 states and 74
tribes.
Without doubt, it is the most un
usual group of native youth ever
assembled.
The institute just came into be
ing last year and many new build
ings, such as a new academic build
ing and several art studios, have
not been completed. Classes were
started this fall in temporary build
ings.
Recently the 18 Alaska art stu
dents were interviewed for Tundra
Times by George A. Boyce, school
superintendent.
Clark’s Point
“I like it here," said Alexandra
Backford, Aleutl-Eskimo daughter
i of Constantine and Anna Backford,
of Nushakag, Clark's Point.
Enrolled in the 12th grade, Alex
andra wants to strengthen her
grades and aims at going to college
to study fine arts and possibly
teaching.
Haines
“I think it’s wonderful, more than
I expected,” said Athabascan Wil
liam Blackmore. a member of the
Chilkat dance group, from Haines,
: Alaska.
Enrolled as a special student tak
ing arts and business principles,
Blackmore’s benefactor Is Mrs. Ruth
Donnelly, of Haines.
Tunanak
“I like it fine, am taking music,
painting and academic work,” said
20-year-old Joseph Chikoyak, Es
kimo, son of Adeline Chikoyak, Tu
nanak. He is enrolled as a special
student.
Kotzebue
Bertha Clark. Eskimo, daughter
of Charlie and Pauline Clark, Kot
zebue, took mostly business courses
at Mount Edgecumbe. She really
l would like to train for clerical
I work.
I The Art Institute emphasizes gen
VL eral academic education combined
■ with arts.
She feels it would be wise to ap
ply through relocation for transfer
for entrance into a commercial
school in California. At first she
did feel homesick at Santa Fe. but
is ready now to stick it out and
hopes she can get into commercial
training.
Red Devil
“I like it very much. I think it
is one of the finest schools I have
ever seen.” said Richard Fredericks,
son of Mrs. Martha Donlon, Red
Devil.
A special student, Richard is tak
ing business principles, typing, Eng
lish, textiles, ceramic sculpture,
general design, Indian Aesthetics
and exploration of other arts.
Haines
|| “I'm very pleased with the Insti
tute. It is a great opportunity for
me. My major interest is music,”
said Carl W. Heinmiller, Haines,
:■ Alaska.
A high school graduate, Heinmil
; ler is very serious about a career
? in music. In addition to music, he
is taking jewelry, performing arts.
'$■' orchestra, band, creative writing,
and piano.
He has become a participating
member in percussions in the Santa
Fe Symphony orchestra. Later he
may take some evening courses at
St. Michael’s College but also wants
• to practice on his music every night,
fe Recently Heinmiller took a col
lege English test and did very well
on it.
jw “I’m very pleased with the Insti
i, tute and have no special problems,”
o jBid Ronald Martin, son of Isabel L.
if-iMatzeck. of Haines.
PH Ronald plans a career in Alaska,
Including guide work, fish and game
vT
; protection, woodcarving and re
; lated arts.
Nome
"I like the school,” said Lucy Ann
Mezenna, whose aunt and uncle.
Mr. and Mrs. Simon Angusuc. live
in Nome.
She is taking piano, orchestra,
weaving, painting, jewelry, required
art courses in design, orientation
and Indian art backgrounds.
Lucy plans to return to Alaska
and settle down there.
Kotzebue
Charlie Mills, son of Leroy and
Annie Mills. Kotzebue, feels the In
stitute is a good school but that he
thinks he would rather go to a
business school.
“I like the school. Mostly 1 like
jewelry and typing. Also I take
English, music, design, and art
orientation,” said Jerry Norton, son
of Daniel S. Norton, of Kivalina.
He is enrolled as a special student.
Hooper Bay
“I like this place and I’m getting
along real well with my friends
and the school staff. I don’t want
my parents to worry about me,”
said Irene Simon, daughter of Mike
and Aldine Simon, of Hooper Bay.
Irene is taking American history,
business arithmetic, English, de
sign. art orientation, jewelry and
ceramics.
Juneau
“I think the Institute is a fine
school for painting, sculpture and
arts like that. But I had hoped to
get more courses in advanced music
than is offered this year, because I
already had a lot of music,” said
Georgena Paddock, daughter of
Mrs. Bessie Paddock. Juneau.
“I find the emphasis is largely on
Indian traditions in art and music,”
she added.
Klawoek
“It is like I expected, but I don't
like the mountains." said Corrine
Peratrovich, daughter of Francis
and Eleanor Peratrovich. Klawoek.
Corrine is in the eleventh grade.
Anchorage
“I think this is a good school for
those who like art. It is prettv far
away from home. I would like to
see some snow.” said Marie Mae
Pederson, daughter of Mrs. Hel®a
Adams, Anchorage, and grand
daughter of Mrs. Beda Adams
Koyuk.
Enrolled in the twelfth grade, she
takes English. American Govern
ment, art exploration. Indian arts
home economics, ceramics, chorus
musical theory and art design.
Haines
“The basic idea of the Institute
is something I have always wanted
T feel that the democratic relation
ship between the students and staff
will reallv make this school if any
thing will,” said Walter Porter, of
Haines.
Porter is a post graduate studen'
and member of the Chilkat Dancers
He wants to go into performing
arts, and is taking this subject
along with freshman English at St.
Michael's College, algebra, business
principles, chorus, band, art design.
Indian arts, and jewelry.
“I like the school; I like the cli
mate; my biggest problem is read
ing out loud," said Porter.
“I like the way the dormitory life
is set up here. When the new build
ings are finished next month, it
should be real nice here.” said 17
year-old Clifford Thomas, son of
Mrs. Margaret V. Thomas, of Haines
Clifford is taking world history,
biology, English, jewelry, ceramics,
art design, art exploration and In
dian Arts background.
Juneau
“I don’t have any complaints."
said 19-year-old Victor Ward, son
| of Mrs. Harold Westman. E-2 Cedar
Park, Juneau.
Victor is taking English, business
mathematics, ceramics, jewelry, art
design, art exploration, sculpture.
Indian arts background.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Missoula. Montana
October 20, 1962
Dear editor:
I have recently received a copy of
the first “Tundra Times” and was
very much impressed with the pa
per. The quality of the articles
seemed very fine and the whole
setup of the paper was impressive.
Even to me Who have never been
to Alaska it was most Interesting.
I am enclosing a check for $6.00
for a year’s subscription to the pa
per. regular mail, and with it goes
hopes for continued success and in
creasing growth.
Sincerely yours,
Hope E. Sladish
Bothell, Washington
October 26, 1962
Dear Editor:
I was introduced to Volume 1,
No. 1 of your newspaper, Tundra
Times, and not only want to wish
you well on your project and its
long success, but would like to
subscribe to it for a year starting
with No. 2 of volume 1 — second
issue. Enclosed please find a check
for $6.00.
I am also enclosing a copy of a
paper which I read at the Thir
teenth Alaskan Science Conference
in August and which you probably
already have seen. I thought you
might be interested in an anthro
pologist’s views of issues which are
of great importance in Alaska to
day. This small paper resulted from
a much larger study which I am
making.
Because very few persons are
aware of the anthropologists’ role
in the claims cases and the pro
cedure of obtaining supporting evi
dence I hoped that this paper would
bring some of the facts before the
public.
Sincerely yours,
(Mrs.) Dorothy Jean Ray
Norwich, Vermont
October 8, 1962
Dear Editor:
Hearty congratulations to you and
your associates on a fine first issue
of Tundra Times. We hope you will
start our subscription with issue
No. 1, and we enclose a check for
$6.00.
A paper such as your has a great
future. It will benefit not only white
and native Alaskans, but it will be
of great interest to all persons con
cerned with the development of
Alaska.
I should be delighted to send
sample copies cf the paper to a
number of my friends, many of
whom will want to subscribe to it.
Could you send me a dozen or so
copies of any issue for this purpose?
Yours cordially,
Alan Cooke
1 Subscribe to f
i JESSEN'S WEEKLY I
8 Alaska's Largest B
X The All Alaska Weekly K
jx Box 970, Fairbanks 1
X Poneer Job Printers 8
Cambridge, Mass.
November 1, 19G2
Dear Editor:
I have seen the first issue of the
Times and think it is excellent.
You're to be congratulated, and I
wish you the best of luck in your
undertaking.
Sincerely yours,
Jean L. Briggs
Teller, Alaska
October 20, 1962
Dear Editor:
Thank you for the two courtesy
copies of “Tundra Times". I am
delighted and plan to file every
issue so I am encolsing my check
in the amount of $5.00 to help keep
your publication alive. To me, your
publication is in fact a genuine
milestone in the advancement of
our people. I say our people as I i
am part Indian.
Your editorial under the caption
“Vocational Schools'* was excel
lent and very well put. The late
Senator William E. Beltz, Presi
dent of the Senate, Alaska State
Legislature worked tirelessly in an
effort to establish vocational schools
throughout the state and I am proud
to have had the opportunity to
work with him in this effort. Ac
tually the results of our efforts are
bearing fruit. The first State Vo
cational School Bond Issue of $1.5
was approved by the voters of Al
aska and this new school which in :
fact is a Pilot School is being con
structed at Nome, Alaska. The land
has been acquired, the soil has been
tested for the building foundations
and the water well for the school
is being drilled. Architects are at
work on the final plans and it is
anticipated that the construction
of the building will begin in the
summer of 63.
The Vocational School at Nome
will need Federal Aid and such aid
is justifiable. Certainly far more
justifiable than "Foreign Aid”
which I have never advocated. Our
Secretary of the Interior Stewart
Udall recently made apublic state
ment in Juneau that the State Vo
cational School at Nome would re
ceive substantial financial aid soon.
Fraternally.
Robert R. Blodgett
NAVIGATION HAZARD
WRANGELL—Capt. Casey Moran
of the Alaska Pilot Service has
asked that persons in the Wrangell
area to be careful when they come .
to the Wrangell wharf to watch the
ships come in.
According to Capt. Moran, some
drivers on the dock turn on their
car lights which blind the pilots as
they come in on strong running
tides.
Native Students !
At University
Form Theata Club
By CHARLES O. DEGNAN
Student, University of Alaska
The Theata Club was organized
on the University of Alaska cam*
pus last September by the Alaska
Native Students. Although the club
was organized in September, the
name was chosen this November.
The name Theata was chosen by
the group and originated by taking
the first letter of the names of tha
native tribes of Alaska—Tlir.get,
Haida. Eskimo. Athabascan, Tsimp*
sian, and Aleut.
The members of the club felt that
this name is appropriate because all
the tribes are represented in the
club.
The primary function or the ciuo
is to promote education in Alaska,
especially among the Alaskan na
tives; preserve the native culture,
lore, arts and crafts.
The Theata Club is now in the
process of raising funds to send one
of its members on a trip for educa
tional purposes or may use the
funds as they see fit.
The officers of the club are: pres
ident, Charles O. Degnan; vice pres
ident. James Adams; secretary.
Daphne Rylander; treasurer, Martha
Mack; sergeant at arms, Richard
Lopez. Executive committee mem
bers, Melvin and Pete Rymes
Thosa eligible for membership are
all Alaska native students at the
University of Alaska and any stu
dent attending the university who
is interested in the goals of the
club.
_ t
Letter to Editor
Fairbanks, Alaska
November 1, 1962
1 Dear editor:
I wanted you to know that I ap
preciate the editorial on discri
mination against whites in the out
lying areas. Believe we discussed
this after the Udall dinner. Feel
that coming from you people that
this injustice may be rectified in
years to come. Unfortunately, as you
know, so many things move siow
I ly.
Think the two issues which Vvk
seen are very worthwhile and inter?
esting, i
Enclosed is a check for our sub
scription. My husband and I wish
the paper continued success.
Sincerely,
Mary Elizabeth LoraeS.
The first production of coal in
Alaska is said to have been at
Kachemak Bay in 1896 when 15.232
tons were mined.
I SUBSCRIBE NOW j
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