- NOATAK ARE
CALLED ARABS
OF THE NORTH
i* •
James H. Maguire, teacher of the
Noatak Eskimo school in the village
in the Arctic circle, relates some in
teresting things regarding the natives
in his annual report to the bureau of
education, a part of which follows:
A reorganization meeting of the
Noatak native council was held early
in November by the village electo
i rate. Seven men were chosen to con
duct and adjust native affairs, differ
ences and disputes, and again affirm
that a native village without a gov
erning council is not progressive.
These men met at stated periods and
listened carefully to suggestions, and
then did not hesitate to put measures
of improvement into operation.
All dogs were chained, even half
grown puppies, which have been
known to chew sled lashings and
otherwise damage property. Worth
less, stray, stunted and inferior sled
dogs were destroyed. Old people
were urged to make wills to -avoid
disagreements among their relatives
after their deaths. Younger men were
sent into the timber land to secure
fuel logs for old women and for fami
1 lies whose adult members were on
the trapping grounds. After a fire
had destroyed one village home the
council made periodic examinations of
each and every flue and chimney, with
the result that no other fires occurred.
We have seen just as efficient coun
cils at other places, and firmly believe
they are organizations spelling ad
vancement.
** No attempt has been made hereto
fore to cultivate the Noatak soil. East
summer we were so impressed with
the house gardens at Kotzebue, Noor
vik and Kiana that we have several
garden plats set to potatoes, turnips,
radishes and other vegetables^ the
success of which venture will mean
much to Noatak. The soil is appar
ently as fertile as at Noorvik, but
slower to warm to depth. It may be
that the season is backward this year,
but we are willing to make every ef
fort to make potatoes grow on the
jNoataK.
The Noatak is not a homesteader
or stay-at-home in any sense of the
term. We are familiar with the Es
kimo from Barrow to Unalakleet, the
islanders and the Siberian natives;
but the Noatak native is probably the
most restless wanderer of them all.
Early in April he begins overhauling
his seal gear, boats, spears, netc, etc,,
and by May 1 he, his family, his dogs,
tents, household goods, practically
everything he possesses, with the sole
exception of his cabin, is sledding
along the ancient trail to the sealing
grounds. He makes two relay camps
en route, and in the course of ten days
or two weeks, reaches his mecca, the
haunt of the Eskimo’s best friend,
natchuk, the seal. Any time before
July 4 will do for Kotzebue, which is
seventy-five miles from the Noatak
sealing camp. The summer spent at
Kotzebue and autumn at hand, the
Noataker turns homeward by way of
.the river, stopping at will to fish,
gather berries and to hunt birds.
Eventually he reaches his village and
goes into camp on the sand bars at
the foot of the village site. There
fishing and drying fish are resumed in
earnest. His racks are red with
salmon sides drying the fast shorten
ing days. He remains in his tent un
til the frost has dried out his rain
soaked cabin, which is repaired, win
dows replaced, and made comfortable
for the winter. Early in December he
sets out for his favorite trapping
ground, and beyond a trip or two back
to the village for food, to sell skins,
or for the Christmas festival, he
spends most of his winters 100 or 200
miles from home. Sometimes his wife
and a child or two are taken along,
but in most cases the children are
left in the village with neighbors or
relatives, so they can attend school.
Trapping finished, the April movement
rto the sealing ground occurs again in
due order. The same grand swing
* around the circle which has been as
regular as the transit of Mercury for
centuries past is in operation, and
will not be stopped. And why should
it be? One of our predecessors desig
nated the Noatak people “the Arabs
of the North.” At that time, several
years ago, we wondered at the term.
Now we understand. We have seen
these people at Kotzebue sound, at
Shushaiuk hunting the shusuk beluga,
or white whale, at sealing camp, and
in the trapping field, as well as in
their comfortable cabins, and we are
satisfied that home Is any place thai
an Eskimo of the Noatak river hap
pens to be.
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*
NOTICE
The meetings of the board of equal
ization will be held at the office ol
the clerk, in the Ostrander building
every night between the hours of S
and 9 p. m., up to and Including Mon
day, December 8, 1919, during which
time any and all persons having any
objections or corrections to ofTer as
to the amount or manner of assess
ment of their taxes are notified to be
present.
By order of the members of the
board of equalization.
(Signed) K. G. ROBINSON,
__ Clerk.
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