Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-28
The Singular Settlement of the An
nette Island Indians.
LIQUOR And GAMBLING EXCLUDED
Jail is Needed Only for Criminals
From Other Places.
GREAT PROGRESS SHOW

I've ere free. The flag of the United
States has taken us into its folds
These patriotic and thrilling words were
uttered in broken English on the 14th day
of August, 1897, by q Metlakahtla Indian
when he carried to his brothe rs in British
Columbia the information that the colony
established on Annette Island, off the coast
of Alaska, was formed and would be pro-
tected by the United States.
For years the natives living at Metlakah-
tia. British Columbia, had been in a state
of excitement and strife 1t was known as
the associated community, and was under
the English flag. In the autumn of 1856
there was crisis in the affairs of the COM
nunity, and a deputy was sent to Wash
ington to beg the United States govern
ment to give them place in Alaska, where
they might build for themselves another
home. Accordingly Annette Island was set
aside and the settlement started The ISL
and is from eighteen to twenty miles long,
with an average width of eight miles, and
although more than seventy-five per cent
of it consists of mountains and rock, the
place Is well suited for a settlement. A
number of the natives Immediately moved
to their new home, and when the messen-
ger returned to Metlakahtla and delivered
the message of freedom and the protection
of the United States there was universal
rejoicing Reports received by the Secre-
tary of the Interior give details of the &C.
currences- Tie messenger extemporized a
song of freedom and sang 1t to Inspiring
native chant. The people were electrified,
and in their joy the work of pulling and
packing up for Alaska at once commenced.
BY the 18th of August over eight hundred
mad safely crossed the water.
The New Settlement.
The natives have considerable intelN-
gence, and they Immediately started to Or
lions for its good government. The native
council consists of eighty members, ten of
whom ara agent men, and twenty of them
are elected by ballot every New Year day.
The duties of the council are to attend to
the public affairs and improvement of the
settlement, and collect and disbursa the
yearly tax of 81 imposed upon every able
bodied male member of the community.
The council selects a treasurer and secre-
tary to keep the village record.
Admission to settle in the community Is
open to all those who are willing to adopt
Its regulations. Every applicant for men,
berShip, however, must be approved by the
council and after probation is publicly adj
United on New Year day at a general mass
meeting. On this occasion each candidate
for membership makes mis- declaration, CIV
Ing his reasons for seeking admittance to
the settlement. and solemnly pledges him.
self to observe its laws and regulations.
After thu declarations have been made, the
Few members are dressed by some member
of the council Lots axe then cast to de-
fermile the company to which each new
member is drafted A badge is given him,
and the company then welcomes him by ac-
clamation to its ranks.
On each New Year day. after the council
Is selected. twenty men are chosen eld-
ers for the church. Their duties are to
watch over the moral and religious affairs
OF the settlement, lock up and correct Of
Tenders and conduct religious services
wherever they may be when on fishing or
hunting expeditions.
The officials of the Village.
After the election of elders the voters are
called upon to elect twenty men as peace
officers of the settlement, from whom two
are selected weekly fer special duties a.
watchmen for the town. All are expected
TO keep a watchful care over the peace
wherever they are travelling are located.
The two watchmen on duty parade the
village occasionally during the day and
with especial vigilance at night. At 9:3O
pm the busie warns all to go TO bed when
the watchmen see that all are indoors ex-
outside.
The memt ers of the community are d.
vioe1 into ten companies each being named
by It's color and each member provided with
a badge bearing the words: Faith Love,
Loyalty, encircled by the words United
Brethren of Metlakahtla."
When 1t came time to build the town
site it was decided that each builder should
front by % feet deep. To avoid conten-
tion as to selection of SITES it was deter
mired to permit the eldest the first choice.
There are no horses OF vehicles in the
village, and SO the roads were only made
twepty feet wide. There is a church,
school, town hall and residences for the
minister. doctor and school teacher. There
Is a natural reservoir in the shape of
lake, so feet above the town, and this
supplies water for running a saw MILL
running the machinery for the canning
house aad serves good drinking water for
the village
There are now about $40 persons in the
community, and the settlement is steadily
growing in resources. OF the Alaskan ma
tiVes about sixty have Joined the settle
.meHt and many more would have come ex-
cept for the strict rules against intoxi-
cants and rambling. Although there is
little need of it the settlement has Jail
for the accommodation of criminals
brought from other places. The village has
three miles of sidewalks. eight feet broad,
and the council is now considering the
lighting of the streets by electricity and
the establishment of a regular water serv-
Ice A fire department, with four small
hand engines, is provided.
The mission is strictly undenominational,
and no aid is received from any religious
Sc iety.