Ctnttira 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 GL 2-2244.
Entered at the Post Office at Fairbanks, Alaska, as second class matter under
the Act of March 3, 1879.
Tundra Times, Inc., publisher (Howard Rock, Martha Teeluk, and Alfred Ketzler) ;
HOWARD ROCK, editor: Thomas Snapp, assistant editor; Vivian P. Spurgin, office
manager; contributing editors, Guy Okakok, Martha Teeluk, and Alfred Ketzler.
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Editorial
Our Position
(Continued from Page 1)
opinion disfavoring that same project lest he lose his job.
In speeches, discussions, articles and editorials, thus
far, emphasis has been placed on the great economic bene
fit of low cost power in bringing industries to Alaska, of
the economic benefit of 20 years of construction, et cetera.
There have been rumblings about the effect on wild
life, ducks and fish, but there has been scarcely anything
said about the human resources, the native people in
volved whose economy and life would be upset should
the project be approved.
What is needed is a study of concrete facts of how the
native people will be affected. Three feasibility studies
have been ordered by Congress: an economic feasibility
study, an engineering feasibility study, and a study of how
the project will affect wildlife. No study has been author
ized to study the human resources—the effect on the
natives.
In November of last year, ten Catholic and Episcopal
missionaries, representing 116 years of work in Interior
Alaska met in Fairbanks and organized the Churches
Socio-Economic Advisory Committee. At that meeting the
missionaries went on record as "favoring the Rampart Dam
as a project definitely in line with normal development"
out stressed since the project would deeply affect the peo
ple living in the area that the "human element should be
given as much attention by the experts as the technical
aspects of the project itself."
So far, to our knowledge, the human element has
been given scarcely a passing mention. Instead, a with
drawal application for the project was suddenly published
in the Federal Register and the Indian villages involved,
much to their disliking, were pushed to take quick action.
This should show the proponents of the project that
their tactics will be countered and in many cases will be
countered effectively by natives involved. What does that
mean? It means obstruction and delay to the proposed
project.
< I his paper is not closing its eyes to the apparent
bright prospects of economic gain Alaska would benefit
in the event the project should be opposed. There is no
doubt that many natives would benefit also. But, the Tun
dra Times believes that the proponents of the proposed
Rampart Dam would make much more progress if they
would seriously try to recognize the problems of the na
lems serious attention.
The Tundra Times also believes that it would be a
big mistake to try to muzzle the fact of those disfavoring
the proiect but welcome them and meet them with other
fac+>. If all the facts, including the human resources
studies, were to be made available to the public, there is
a good chance that the question of the proposed project
might be resolved in much shorter time than it would
take otherwise. We hope that all parties concerned, pro
and con, will keep this in mind and work accordingly. If
concrete plans were laid out before the natives in the
inundation area, who knows, they may be receptive to
the idea.
Rampart Dam, and the tremendous effect it would
have on many things should be discussed freely, without
subjecting the opponents to pressures of consequences.
The situation brings to our attention a famous quotation
from the great statesman, Disraeli: "I may not agree with
e word you say, but I will defend unto death your riqht
to say it." y
NORTH STAR
AWARD
(In each issue, the Tundra
Times will single out for a North
Star award one who has made an
outstanding accomplishment or
done a meritorious art.)
•'I wish I could express it better,
but Mrs. Jones has done so much
for us. the native students, at the
university,” said an Indian student
at the University of Alaska. He was
talking about Mrs. Laura Jones, Di
rector of Admissions and Registrar.
We will venture to say that words
of appreciation are not always op
enly expressed to Mrs. Jones, about
the unselfish counselling she has
provided the native students, not
only at the University of Alaska,
but in other schools in villages and
towns in the state where she has
served.
We asked some questions at ran
dom of several native students and
the answer has been an unwavering,
‘‘she has done so much.” This an
swer did not need elaboration be
cause it was an heartfelt expression.
Laura Jones first came to Alas
ka in 1945. to teach at Pilot Point
out in the Aleutians near Ugashik.
She taught all grades in that ele
mentary school. In 1948, she was
transferred to Mt. Edgecumbe near
Sitka where she taught the 8th
grade until 1952. In that year she
published a book “The Hearth in
the Snow,” on which she collabor
ated with Jerry Allen.
The Jones’ were then transferred
to Juneau where she was made su
pervisor of Bureau of Indian Af
fairs schools in Alaska. From 1952
to 1954. she travelled throughout
Alaska visiting 95 per cent of the
villages that had BIA schools. In the
fall of 1954 she moved back to Mt.
Edgecumbe where she was installed
as assistant principal. She held that
office until 1955. She came to Fair
banks and taught at Main Element
ary School until February fo 1956.
She was then made registrar at the
University of Alaska.
At the university, she has spon
sored the International Club, an or
ganization of foreign students. She
also sponsored the present Theata
Club made up of native Alaskan
students.
In all the important work Mrs.
Jones has done in many areas of
Alaska, we think that her work with
native students at the University
of Alaska is most outstanding. The
help she has given them in coping
with problems and adjustments to
college life is of great importance,
since going to higher institutions of
learning is still quite new to natives
of Alaska. This assistance has given
more confidence to Alaskan stu
dents to attend colleges and uni
versities.
In doing this, she has inspired
many students to continue their ed
ucation. She has found time to coun
sel with them on problems of ad
justing. on financial matters, and
social programs. She has helped the
students find parttime jobs. In do
ing all this she has had to put in
countless hours and to help in ac
tivities of the native students.
And so to Mrs. Laura Jones, regis
trar at the University of Alaska,
for her untiring efforts to better the
conditions and to assist in the all
important adjustments the Alaskan
students have had to make, for her
inspiring influence, goes the Tundra
Times sixteenth North Star Award !
along with our congratulations. i
--- I
POEM
My Island
By Lucy McCarr
(Reprinted from Aurora Borealis)
In the middle of the sea,
There’s an island just for me;
There I found a friendly goat.
With a sailing boat;
And no one comes and bothers me
Editorial
Outsiders
Keeping in mind not to magnify anything out of pro
portion, or seeming to coincide anyone with the following
bit of ancient history, the question of lands in Alaska in
connection with natives, brings to mind of a great amphi
theater, such as the one this writer has seen at Carthage in
Tunisia.
One day during World War II, with two of his Air
Force friends the editor went to see the ruins of Carthage
near the city of Tunis. Our guide was a young Arab man
who guided us around a huge amphitheater with rows
upon rows of stone seats circling the arena below. Fie
pointed out two compartments or rooms on opposite sides
of the arena.
He said, "This one was for slaves or war prisoners and
the other one over there was for the lions."
Hannibal, and other such dignitaries, used the amp
hitheater as a place to amuse their whims by pitting a slave
or prisoner against a hungry lion. It is not hard to imagine
which one of the protagonists came out victorious. Great
crowds watched the spectacle. The life and death struggle
below mattered little to them.
We will not say that people are amused about native
land problems and those with whom they are hassling.
This is indeed no joking matter. The land problems in
Alaska are enormous. More people should realize the grav
ity of this problem. Moreover, they should realize that this
is indeed a national problem.
There is an unequal struggle going on pertaining to
land. The natives are pitting their woefully weak resources
against powerful forces that know all the moves. While
this is happening, the people of Alaska are sitting back
complacently. They are saying little one way or the other.
It is making the natives feel that people of Alaska will not
care if things were to go against them.
Realizing that help was not forthcoming from the
home state, the natives have appealed for help from other
states. They have realized that their problem is a stag
gering one, which they never hope to solve by themselves.
When some people in Alaska learned that some national
organizations were attempting to help the natives, they
start hollerina "outsiders."
We don't think that those people have any right to
say anything like that' The natives have found that some
national organizations have amazing and thorough knowl
edge of native problems in Alaska.
Since when did citizens of the United States become
"outsiders?" When disaster or an emergency happens in
any one state in the union, do other states turn their heads
and look the other way. People in Alaska, and the State
of Alaska, that benefit from the other states should never
allow their spokesmen to call the people in their sister
states "outsiders."
It is indeed distressing to the natives, that while they
are attempting to work in honest effort for their future
well-being, there is hardly any ripple of support from
the people in their home state.
The land problem is an enormous one that will have
a great bearing in the future of Alaska as a whole. It is
imperative that natives and non-natives both work toward
an equitable settlement. If this can be achieved in a reas
onable satisfaction to both factions, Alaska will have
gained a brighter future for itself.
Justice and fair play never bother anybody's con
science.
Editorial
That Fighting Spirit
Not long ago a terrible fire engulfed the main section
of Cordova, a town near the Gulf of Alaska, and destroyed
many businesses, including the plant of the Cordova
Times, a weekly. _
It goes beyond saying that it must have been a ter
rible setback to those responsible for the publication of
the paper. However numbing the blow may have been,
it failed to dampen the spirit of the staff of the Cordova
Times. Knowing the responsibility to serve their readers,
they promptly came out with a mimeographed newspaper.
In its small way, the Tundra Times would like to ex
tend its congratulations to the Cordova Times staff for its
"never say die" spirit. There will, no doubt, be better
times for the Cordova Times.