The disintegration started when the non-Native culture, totally foreign to the natural environment of Alaska, caused great disruption between the land and the Native people. First came the devastating epidemics of diseases to which Native people had never before been exposed. In this context, it is not difficult to understand the anger and frustration of Alaska Native people. Natives cannot help but observe that with the arrival of every new service and each new non-Native provider comes more damage to the Native way of life and to the pride and independence of the people. It continues to foster a state of dependency that destroys the self-esteem of the people who find themselves caught between two worlds.
Dependency is a terribly destructive force.
As individuals, we are born with a sense of being special. But this sense of self-worth develops only if we have the good fortune of growing up in a healthy environment. I t is impossible to make life meaningful unless we have been given the means to do so. In a rapidly changing world, this often becomes a serious problem. When parents do no have the skills to prepare their children for changes yet to come, they often transmit their feelings of helplessness to their children.