CunUra CtmrS
Owned, controlled and edited by Tundra Times, Inc., a corporation of Alaska
natives. Published at Fairbanks, Alaska, twice monthly, on the first and third
Mondays.
Address all mail to Box 1287, Fairbanks, Alaska. Telephone OL 2-2244.
Entered at the Post Office at Fairbanks, Alaska, as second class matter under
the Act of March 3, 1879.
«r»\T>U\niTimes* *nc- Publisher (Howard Rock, Martha Teeluk, and Alfred Ketzler);
HOWARD ROCK, editor; Thomas Snapp, assistant editor; contributing editors,
Guy Okakok. Martha Teeluk, and Alfred Ketzler.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
6 months $ 2.50
Regular Mall, State . 1 year 5.00
Mailed to Other States . 6 months 3.00
1 year 6.00
Air Mall to States . 6 months 6.00
Less than 6 months, 36c per issue . 1 year 12.00
Editorial
Getting Through
To talk about the Tundra Times' accomplishments may
not be the thing to do, but those of us who have worked
intimately with it are quite amazed and very thankful for
what the paper has been able to do in the space of a year.
The Tundra Times was a challenge right from the very
beginning. If it hadn't been for Tom Snapp, an experienced
journalist, this paper would not have achieved the measure
of stature it enjoys today. The inexperienced editor wasn't
much of a help except for his fair knowledge of native
problems.
From the very start, the Tundra Times was a question
mark. Would it do an adequate job? Would it fall flat on
its young face? Some people wondered, "Would it be
controversial?"
One formidable obstacle the paper had to overcome
was an apprehensive audience—an indifferent audience.
We of the staff, as we worked along, have had feelings of
apprehension and have asked ourselves, "Are we getting
through to the people?"
It has not been an easy year but the staff kept trying.
We did not say to one another, "We have a duty to per
form." But this, we feel, has been the underlying thought.
It made us try a little harder.
As the year progressed, we began to see signs of
approval. Letters of encouragement began to come by the
hundreds; letters from people from all walks of life. They
were letters from little people, the near great, famous edi
tors. They wrote, almost unanimously, "You are doing a I
fine job. The paper, such as yours, has long been needed."
Our efforts to present the native side of life in Alaska
had begun to bear fruit. We were coming through to the
people. The perception of this was there. It could be felt.
It became even stronger when a charming white lady came
into our office and said, "I just want to tell you how much
I enjoy your paper. You're doing a fine job." Then she
walked out. A ten second visit but we enjoyed i+ im
mensely. . . **. •
As we tried to work we have been inspired by one in
herent feeling—we care for the people whom we are
trying to help. This has aided us immensely to "come
through" to them. We feel thankful when some natives
say, "We're very thankful for what you are trying to do
for us." When others just smiled, that is sufficient also. A
smile can tell a long story.
This writing, we feel, will not be complete without
mentioning a kindly man. He has had to carry a heavy
financial burden to keep the Tundra Times publishing. Hi;
generosity has made it possible for us to educate the pub
lie, to whatever extent, of the native affairs in Alaska. We
would not be far wrong if we said that he had done e
major humanitarian service in behalf of the native peoples
of Alaska. His concern for their welfare has been another
inspiration for all of us. The general public, especially the
natives, should give him a vote of gratitude for the great
individual service he has done for the betterment of the
natives all over Alaska.
This kindly man we should never forget is, Dr. Henry
S. Forbes, Milton 86, Massachusetts.
NORTH STAR
AWARD
The village of Point Hope, in the
far northwestern part of Alaska,
has come to be known as one of the
most progressive Eskimo communi
ties in Alaska. This has not come
about by accident and the credit
must go to the caliber of men elect
ed as leaders of the village.
During the past several years one
such leader Iras been Daniel Lis
bourne, president of the village
council. He has done outstanding
service for his community.
Lisbourne is the kind of a lead
er who has shown genuine con
cern for his people. Through his
astute leadership, his community's
economy has continued to improve.
One example of this has been his
careful choice of appointing an out
standing store manager. John Oktol
lik. Through Oktollik's manager
ship, the Point Hope Native Store
has completely paid off its loan.
The store has continually shown
substantial profits year after year.
Lisbourne has gained the respect
of his fellow villagers by fighting
to keep out non-resident commer
cial interests that might exploit the
village, but has encouraged local
businesses and community enter
prises.
He has proposed community pro
jects one of which was to build a
sea wall to protect the village from
heavy northwest storms that have
flooded the village and eaten away
large sections of the north bank.
Lisbourne has received an approval
from Governor William A, Egan,
for this proposal.
Community pride and -spirit has
been his concern also. He has seen
that historical monuments and an
cient sites are well cared for.
Besides doing numerous other
services for his village. Lisbourne
is president of the Alaska Native
Industries Cooperative Association
(ANICA) and has served that or
ganization well. He has been a
BIA school maintenance man for
many years and has received the
rare cash award for outstanding
achievement on that job.
And so to Daniel Lisbourne. presi
dent of the Village Council of Point
Hope, for his unselfish and out
standing service to his community,
for his continuing efforts to im
prove it. goes the Tundra Times
twentyfifth North Star Award along
with our wishes for continued suc
cess and our congratulations.
_
POEM
From—
Laughing Boy
(Reprinted from Indian Affairs)
By Oliver La Farge
‘With a place of hunger in me I
wander,
Food will not fill it,
Aya-ah, beautiful.
With an empty place in me I wan
der,
Nothing will fill it,
Aya-ah, beautiful.
With a place of sorrow in me 1
wander.
Time will not end it,
Aya-ah, beautiful.
With a place of lonliness in me I
wander,
Vo one will fill it,
Aya-ha, beautiful.
Forever alone, forever in sorrow 1
wander,
Forever empty, forever hungry I
wander,
With the sorrow of great beauty I
wander,
With the emptiness of great beauty
I wander,
Never alone, never weeping, never
empty,
Now on the old age trail, now on
the path of beauty I wander,
Ahalani, beautiful!’
Editorial
Friend of Motives
Earlier this year, the famous old ship, the Revenua
Cutter Bear, sank in the stormy seas of Atlantic. Having
known the old ship well during her service in Alaskan
waters in his young days, the editor wrote an editorial
about it. He could never forget the beautiful sight she pre
sented as she cleaved the wind driven waves of the Chuk
chi Sea under full sail to round the point and anchor on tha
lee side off the north beach at Point Hope.
The editorial on the death of the famous old ship
traveled far and wide. It reached the southernmost point
in the United Statesthe town of Stock Island, Florida. There
resided a veteran mariner, Captain Frank Curry, 89 years
young. He read the editorial.
He wrote, "This writer was deeply touched concern
ing the editorial on the Cutter 'Bear,' he, having been a
mariner for the past 65 years and having known of the
'Bear,' as well as the 'Thetis," and their crews when they
were making history."
The Captain went on to say that he did art work
making murals and plaques using colored cement. He de
sired a print or photo of the old ship. He added:
"I would find great pleasure in executing a plaque to
present free to the natives of Alaska."
Little over a week ago, Captain Frank Curry debarked
from a jet from Seattle to Fairbanks. He had come to work
on the plaque in commemoration of the great old ship, the
Revenue Cutter Bear, to be presented to the natives of
Alaska. J(
"As you can see, I am getting along in years, he
said smiling. "I want to spend the rest of my days meeting
people I like. I have learned to like the natives of Alaska jj
from a distance and I want to do something for them.
They loved the old "Bear," and I want to do a plaque of
it for them."
In Captain Frank Curry, redoubtable Irish gentleman
with a great sense of humor, the natives of Alaska have i
found a man they can call a friend.
Editorial
Is If ci 'Break?
Papers all over the United States last week appar
ently thought it amusing and quaint when they gobbled up
the Associated Press release that sounded very much like,
"Hey look, those Eskimo high school students are getting
a big break in not getting as much radiation because they
attend school away from home and eating white man's
food."
That kind of journalistic hi-jinks, we think, will not
set well with the Eskimo parents at home; whose food
sources are being contaminated by white men's war
weapons. They are sad because this is happening sad
because they miss their children who, by necessity, have to
go to schools a thousand miles away because there are no
high schools at home. The students themselves miss their
parents a great deal. The family bond among Eskimos is
very strong.
Under these circumstances, would Eskimo high school
students feel they were getting a "break"?
Editorial
Pt. Hope News
For a long time now, the Tundra Times has steadily
received news from Point Hope. The editor, having been
born there, sometimes felt he was practicing favoritism
when he printed so many items from his home village and
since most of his articles in the Arctic Survival series origin
ated there. He has decided not to feel this way any longer
and will print news items he had room for from his home.
Not because Point Hope is his home village, the editor
has noticed decided progressiveness in the community af
fairs in general. He also feels other villages might take
similar attitude toward improving their surroundings. The
activities at Point Hope reflect fine leadership the village
has been enjoying.
Any news that might be forthcoming from other com
munities will be given equal treatment.