CunDra Ctuus iec
Indian I
Pena Nena Henash The Land Speaks
Tlingit
A # » Ut kah neck Informing and Reporting
Aleut
Unungang Toonooktakuks The Aleuts Speak
Vol. 1, No. 14 Monday, April 15, 1963 Fairbanks, Alaska
Wildlife Group
Opp oses Rampart
Dam Withdrawal
The National Wildlife Federa
tion is opposed to the proposed
withdrawal and reservation of 8,
955,520 acres for development of
the Rampart Canyon hydroelectric
project.
The association's views were con
tained in a letter sent to Daniel
A. Jones, Manager of the Fairbanks
Land Office at Fairbanks, copies of
which were furnished to the Alas
ka congressional delegation.
“The National Wildlife Federa
tion,” Executive Director Thomas
L. Kimball's letter stated, “does not
believe that justification has been
made for the construction of this
giant project. Certainly, the market
for power it would produce is not
evident. We are certain, however,
that such an impoundment would
flood out a major waterfowl pro
duction area and damage other
valuable fish and wildlife resources.
In our opinion, this withdrawal
should not be made effective until
extensive public hearings have been
held, both in Alaska and in the
mainland area of the United States.
If such hearings are scheduled, the
National Wildlife Federation re
quests the privilege of being heard.”
The notice of the proposed with
drawal was carried in the March
21 issue of the Federal Register.
Views on the proposal are to be
submitted to Mr. Jones by April
20, with the notice stating that a
public hearing will be held at a
convenient time and place “if cir
cumstances warrant it.”
THE BOW OF THE BOWHEAD—The huge bow, on and forward
from the skull of the whale on which the baleen, or whalebone, is
attached at the roof of the mouth, is shown being pulled to one side |
so the opposite set of baleen can be detached from the bow. This !
whale was one of the largest ever taken at Point Hope.
—Photo by Don C. Foote
Howard Rock, Times Editor,
Receives Top Press Award
Howard Rock. Eskimo artist from
Pt. Hope, who prior to last October
had never written a newspaper ar
ticle, was named on April 4 by the
Alaska Press Club as the top news
paper columnist in the state.
Rock, who conceived the idea of
the Tundra Times and was its prin
cipal founder, received the first
place press award for his continu
ing series on “Arctic Survival.”
I Only seven of Rock’s columns
Editorial
Rampart Confusion
Things sure can get mixed up. Confusion is building
up right this moment over the proposed Rampart Canyon
hydroelectric project.
We have been told the reason why the U.S. Geologi
cal Survey wants to withdraw 8,955,520 acres is to stop
land speculation so people cannot start hemesteading,
mining, elc., later to make claims against the government.
Now, the Interior Department has come out with the
statement that the land withdrawal would not affect min
eral leasing, mining, etc., that these activities will be
allowed to continue.
The Federal Power Commission has been requested
to figure cut a way how the lands can be disposed of,
quoting Senator Bartlett's report from Washington, "under
certain circumstances allowed in many such withdrawals
under Section 24 of the Federal Power Act of 1920. If
favorable action is taken, the Interior Department would
issue a suitable opening order. This would mean that the
land could be entered for homestead and homesite pur
poses, and if needed for federal purposes compensation
could be paid for damages to crops, buildings or any im
provements."
From this, it does not appear the withdrawal will
curtail speculation. If this comes to pass, it shows the Fed
eral Government will have to spend quite a hunk more
(Continued on Page 2)
appearing in 1962. could be consid
ered by the judges. These articles
are: “Hair Seal—The Big Little
Animal;-’ “From Caribou—Parkas.
Mukluks. Ice Cream;-- “Bags, Boats,
Raincoats, Window Janes—All made
from Bearded Oogruk:" “Inaccurate
Testbocks Create Igloo Myth in
Alaska;-’ “Timely Tomcod Proved
Arctic Lifesaver:” “Murres, ‘Pen
quins' of the Arctic, Prefer Ancient
Cliffs,” and “Mice that Furnish
Roots Win Hearts of Arctic People."
The top individual press awards
| went to Gerald Bowkett, staff
writer, of the Anchorage Times,
who received two first place
awards, for to top individual story
and best news series,
(Continued on Page 7)
Senator Bartlett Demands
Extensive Study of Danger
To Arctic Food Chain
Alaska’s senior senator, E. L.
(Bob) Bartlett, has charged that
it is possible Eskimos and Indians
in Alaska are being exposed to
heavy radiation and potentially
dangerous levels of radioactivity.
Declaring that federal agencies
have known of this peril but have
done nothing about it. Senator Bart
lett called for an immediate scien
tific testing program to determine
the extent of the hazard and for
the preparation of stand-by mea
sures for use should radiation be
found to exceed safe levels.
National Problem
“Fallout and contamination arc
a national problem," he told the I
Senate. “They are not a state prob
lem. Failure to assume full federal
leadership and direction could lead
to tragedy far larger than state
wide proportions.”
Pointing out that although con
fusion exists as to the meaning of
inadequate statistics at hand. Sena
tor Bartlett said, that the facts
seem clear and irrefutable that the
Eskimos and Indians are receiving
several times more strontium-90
and cesium-137 into their systems
than are American citizens of more
temperate climates.
Unique Food Chain
He stated the source of the con
tamination is found in the “unique”
Arctic food chain, whereby many
of Alaska's Indians and Eskimos
depend on caribou which in turn
subsist largely on lichens. “This
type of plant,” he said, “unlike most
others, depends for its water and
nutrients upon the atmosphere and
not the soil. It sifts the air and thus
absorbs directly and without dilu
tion fallout material from atomic
testing. Arctic lichens has been
ARTISTIC VENTURE STARTED—At Point Hope seal-skin prints
by Tegochak (Calvin Oktollik.) and Ooulknuk (John Tingook) are
outstanding examples of Eskimo graphic art. Both studied under the
talented Berit Arnestad of Norway. Pictured are Ouluknuk's “Polar
Bear With Seal” and Tegochak’s “Seal Hunter” and “Whale With
Belugas.” Both artists are skilled ivory carvers and makers of whale
bone masks. These artists are trying to establish a market for their
work.
found to be very, very heavily con
taminated.”
Declaring that statistics avail
able have been gleaned from “one
shot” testing. Senator Bartlett
pointed out that the seriousness of
the situation has been recognized in
Scandinavia where three interna
tional symposiums have been held
and where lichen-eating reindeer
are part of the food chain of those
northern countries.
Extensive Testing Xeeded
“It is imperative right now,” he
said, “to institute adequate, con
tinuous, extensive .painstaking test
ing in Arctic Alaska. These tests
should be on a month-in, month-out
basis. There is little use and little
point to one-shot tests.
“They have shown in the past
only that the problem exists. What
we need to know now is exactly
where it exists and exactly how
severe it is. What is equally neces
sary is to work out a sensible pro
gram of steps to be taken should
human radiation levels among the
1 Eskimos reach grave heights.”
Frantic Search
To Find Name
Of Official
By Thomas Snapp
Times Staff Writer
Just as the Tundra Times was
nearing its deadline, the staff was
thrown into a quandry.
The staff needed just one little
fact—the name of the Secretary of
the Department of Health. Educa
tion and Welfare in President Ken
nedy's cabinet.
But. for some strange reason, no
one seemed to know and research,
source books, and telephone calls
didn't seem to help much in coming
up with the answer.
Name Missing
The editor was writing a story
from a news release that had been
received through the mail. Unfor
tunately. the writer of the release
had omitted the Secretary’s name.
The staff checked its source books
but found only the listing of the
former Secretary of Health. Educa
tion and Welfare. Abraham Ribicrff.
Even the 1963 World Almanac car
ried Ribicoff as the cabinet officer.
Newspaper articles were recalled
by the staff telling of Ribicoff re
signing and President Kennedy’s
appointment of a man from Ohio to
the post. But none of thestaff mem
bers could remember the name, nor
the approximate date of the ap
pointment.
News magazines and newspapers
were gone through to locate the
name without success.
(Telephone Calls
Then, in desperation, we made a
(Continued on Fago 7)