The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-12-05

Alaska Indians: first, a living, because
the changed conditions have largely
deprived him of the chance to earn it
himself; second. the protection of his
personal rights, in which respect he
has been most unjustly treated in
many ways; and, third, it owes him an
education not only in books but IN
some of the simple arts by which he
may earn decent living
At Nome the committee listened to
statements concerning the Indians by
Captain j. c. Barr of Tacoma, who
has spent many years in Alaska and
is one Of the best informed men on
the Indian question on the Paclf1c
coast, and by Major J. F. A. Strong,
editor of the Nome Nugget. Captain
Barr favored the establishment or
one or two reservations where the
Indians might be collected and taken
care of somewhat on the reservation
plan in the states. Major Strong adj
vocated the appointment of agents
who should be charged with the duty
Of caring for the Indians and VINO
should protect them from being
defrauded in the sale Of the product Of
their native handicrafts, by Whlch
they could, if thus assisted, aid ma
terially in their own support. Both
Captain Barr and Major Strong con-
demned strongly the restrictions laid
upon the Indians by the game laws,
which deprive them of their most I'M
portant means of support.
If one would see the disastrous con-.
sequences of the unrestricted contact
of the Indians with the whites ne
need go no further than the Sandspit
during the summer Eskinos from
points all along the coast and as
far away as East Cape, Siberia. The
Indians of Alaska are not noted Tor
chastity under any conditions, ana
the conditions which exist there are
about the worst in this respect, while
the easy access to f1re-Water produces
the results that might naturally De
Eexpected.
I do not know what the senatorial
committee will report, but know that
they were deeply impressed with the
obligation resting upon the govern
ment to do something for these
wretched people of the north who
have fallen into, our. hands thru nc
! fault Of their own. and for whom the
government has thus far done prac'
tically nothing. Perhaps the commit
tee will feel that with the limited op
portunity afforded them for study O.
this important question they are no
prepared to say what is the best thing
to do for the Indians. They ma!
recommend the sending OF specla
commission to Alaska to inquire int
this matter and formulate some def1n
lite and effective policy which shall
meet the heavy moral obligation rest
ing upon the government with respec
to these people. In any event tn
situation is urgent and calls fo1
prompt action. Every consideration
Of humanity and justice demands it.
With this presentation of the con
dition of the native population o
Alaska, the evidence as to what cal
be done for them and what they viii
do for themselves afforded by the cas-
Of the Metlakahtla community AM
upon the government to do all tina
can be done for these unfortunate PEG
pie, my story of our Alaskan trip ends
The McCulloch arrived in Seattl
harbor in the early morning of Thurs
day, Aug. ~. We left there June rs
SO that our trip from the sound to tn
arctic and back again. to Seattle ha
occupied just two months The dis
lance covered from Minneapolis an
back to this city aggregated a littl
over, 10000 miles.
From Nome to Seattle we Travelled
by the revenue cutter McCulloch
stopping at such points as the mem
: wished to reach. The log of tina
5 splendid ship showed that we ha
) travelled with her 3,406 miles, and jus
: twenty-eight days. For the man
t courtesies received at the hands Q
= Captain w. c.. Coulson and Lieutenar
F. M. Dunwoody and all the officer
t Of the ship I am personally unde
5 heavy obligations. Captain Coulso
: reached the age of retirement abou
s six weeks after our arrival at Seattl
e and is now enjoying the rest an
! leisure he has SO we'll earned afte
S more than forty years Of faithful an
e honorable service to his countr
: Lieutenant Dunwoody is in line fo
d promotion and has we'll earned tn
Y right to command a ship in the revt
|. nue. service. I shall hear of his pro
s motion and Of the advancement of an
h of his fellow officers of the McCu
l. loch with great pleasure, as the
l. proved themselves, every one, on thu
e long voyage, to be high grade gentle