Arthur H. Miller, in charge of the
work of the bureau of education in
the Copper river valley, says the
work of the bureau of education is
progressing satisfactorily and insists
that much good is resulting from its
efforts. The following article deal
ing with the Copper river natives
was contributed by him:
The Copper river Indians, from
Taral northward to the headwaters
of the Copper river, number slightly
more than three hundred, subdivi
sions of which tribe recognize in
varying degree by the leadership of
Chief Goodlataw at Chitina, Chter
Billum at Tonsina. Chief Bib Jack
at Copper Center. Chief Ewan at
Gulkana. and Chief John at Man
tasta. the latter having died during
the year 1915.
The exact origin of the Copper
river Indians is still a mooted ques
tion. some maintaining that his pro
genitors are Japanese. Others hold
the opinion that ne is a descendant
of the Canadian-American Indian.
Our observations incline us to the
opinion that the traces of Japanese
blood show only among the younger
members of the tribe and that the
purest types found among the older
Indians possess similar features,
habits, traits and characteristics of
the American Indian,
One thing is certain, he has be
come purely an Alaskan Indian in
one respect at least: he has acquired
the Alaska standards of value, the
easy come, easy go methods of
spending his money when he has
any, and has very little conception |
of economy. Most people inquire:
"Is he susceptible of a higher de
velopment; apt to learn?” We an
swer without hesitation, yes. When
we feel inclined to judge these peo
ple rather harshly, when they so !
often fall so far short of our ex
pectations, we do Well to remember
the fact that they are scarcely fifty
years from the bow-and-arrow stage
of living, with no written form of !
language, and a vocabulary of less
than one thousand words, in their
native tongue.
Their brief period of contact with
■
the white, people from the earliest
Russian occupation down to the
present time has been a succession
of contradictions sufficient to pro
duce a sort of chaotic bedlam in his
hitherto unsuspicious and unlettered
mind. #ie will tell you how the first
white men lie saw, the Russian trad
ers, undertook to enslave him, beat
ing him into submission and com
pelling obedience which he remem
; hers with abhorrence and dread.
Then came the prospectors, care
free, generous minded adventurers,
shouting their enthusiasm and sing
ing their way to the gold fields, pay
ing the Indians $3 apiece for sal
' mon, a dollar a pound for packing,
liberally sharing his food with him
when hungry and leaving him many
an outfit and grubstake after he had
given up the struggle and was hit
ting the trail hard back to home
and mother.
Abundance of fish and game, of
which he could easily take ample
supply, with no thought for the
morrow except the getting of an ad
ditional supply of such foods from
the summer's growth of berries and
roots as added variety to his simple
menu for the winter months, such a
life has ill prepared him to readily
realize the serious situation which
now confronts him. of taking
thought for the future, and provid
ing for those dependent upon him
by real work.
None who have made a close and
careful study of the Indian in his
primitive state of life will charge
him with being by nature more im
moral then the people of other
races. The penalty of the unwrit
ten law was me.ted out speedily and ,
mercilesslv to the offender, during!
his primitive state of life. It is
clearly apparent that the native's
morals are not improved with the
promiscuous intermingling among
other races, and that his moral
standard may be preserved only
by an aggressive supervision, d.rec
tion and training which conveys to
him with discriminating distinction
between high and low standards of
morality.
The native is not only suscepti- j
ble to a higher deielopment in many
respects, but has an aptitude for j
any work which requires deftness
and skill with the hands. Hisj
habits of life have had a tendency I
to make him think quickly, and in j
spite of his many ridiculous super
stitions he possesses the power of
keen discernment and an intuition
born of necessity. He ig now in the
stage where he is neither Indian nor
white man. In his mode of living.
The former dava of obtaining an
easy livelihood are rapidly passing,
and the new is thrust upon him so
quickly he has not had time to as
similate it.
j He responds with remarkable
readiness to book learning, consid
ering the fact that no written form
of knowledge has made an impres
sion upon the brain of his ancestors,
it is safe to say for generations, but
while book learning is an important
part of his education, the problem
of his physical support, the care of
his body in learning habits of clean
liness and sanitation, the treatment
of his diseases (which are almost
as great a menace to the white pop
ulaiton as to himself), and the
training of his hands to work must
receive first consideration, or there
will be no Indian left to educate.
The great inherent principle exist
ing among the highest types of civ
ilized manhood, viz., the sympathy
of the strong for the weak, will not
say. ‘ Let him die.”
All Alaskans can make the way
easier for these people to find their
way out to a higher plane of life,
and thought if in their relations to
them we show the largest measure
of our charitable consideration.
These natives, together with other
natives of Alaska, being under the
supervision of the United States bu- i
lean of education, are receiving the
greatest possible assistance that can
be rendered with t lie funds available ,
for that purpose, looking toward in
creased appropriations adequate to j
cope with all the difficulties which ,
hinder the native in his struggle for
existence, and the full enjoyme.nt of j
all his rights, vouchsafed even to the i
weakest under the protection of the
American flag, and these Indians re
gard the government of the United
States as their best friend.
Whitney's Ranch, the big dinners,
the wild flowers and the fishing. Ask
the Reo Service. Herman L. Gentsch.
6-2 7-6t.
Fresh vegetables trom our own
garden. Tacoma Cafe. 6-15tf
We have for sale at a very low
price one five-drawer, drop head sew
ing machine. C. B. Wark, Manfgs.
Agent. 6-24ft |
When at Matnnuska Fat at the
PLACE CAFE
Mrs. Hatton, Prop.
J. M. CORNELIUS
Watches J* Jewelry
Eye Glasses Fitted, Watch Repair
ing, Jewelry Made to Order.
High-class. Prices Reasonable.
Fourth and H St.
LENNON'S
Bakeryani Coffee House
Bread, Pies, Cakes, Cookies, Etc. i
-a Specialty
Fourth avenue west.
Sanitary Market
The only cold storage plant in con- |
nection with market In Anchorage.
Home-made Sausages. Fruits, Veg
etables, Butter and Eggs, at whole- j
sale. Restaurants and roadhouses,
special attention.
till Ave.. Bet. H and 1 Sts.
E. E. KURTZ & CO.
The Sydney Laurence Company
Commercial and Pictorial Photography
Post Cards and Local Vifws
Kodak Developing and Printing
Town Center
Carrol Building. Fourth Avenue
Phil, The Barber
O. K. Hath House and Barber
Shop.
Fourth, Between D and E.
Phil .T. Eckert. Proprietor.
$1 PER DAY
Corner 4th Ave. and C
MKS. QUINN, Prop.
BILLIARD — SOLO
PARLORS
Soft Drinks, Cigars, Cigarettes, Tobaccos
Best of Service 4th and D Sts.
Balch & McDonald
General Contractors
FRAME CONSTRUCTION CONCRETE WORK
EXCAVATION GRADING
HOUSE MOVING
4th Ave. Bet. D and E Anchorage
4
Ill® Two Girls Cafe
Mrs. Ollle Gray and Viola Bar
nett, Propr etors.
Our Motto: WAFFLES A SPECIALTY
Courtesy, Service, Quality 4th Ave. and C St.
PETER BOMPIANI & CO.
General Contractors, Concrete Work a Specialty
*
Address General Delivery
SPEND the FOURTH WITH US
This is an invitation for all the people of
Cook Inlet to come and celebrate with
ANCHORAGE
There Will Be Amusement Provided for the Young and the
Old Including:
50-, 100-, and 220-yard dashes. 100-Yard Obstacle Race.
One-Mile Relay Race. Sack, Three-Legged Potato, and Relay Races.
Five-Mile Marathon. In fact, all kinds of Field Sports and plenty of Good Music.
Two Big Ball Games
Two Big Ball Games
Between the Matanuska, Commission, Shamrock and
City Teams.
A MERRY WALTZ
At the dance given in the evening by the Anchorage Volunteer Fire Department will be a fitting wind-up of the day’s pleasure