The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1917-07-20
AID NATIVE ALASKANS
Uncle Sans Agents Seek to I'm
r-1ve Living Conditions.
Introduce Sanitary Methods Of Pre-
serving Fish and Berries, Chief
Source Of Food Supply.

In addition TO maintaining schools
for the native children In Alaska,
Uncle Sans bureau OF education is
continuing its endeavors In behalf Of
the entire native communities by eX-
tending medical relief, by maintaining
sanitary methods OF living In the viii
lagos, by promoting the industries con-
Quoted by the natives and by rellev-
ing destitutlon.
Experts of the bureau say that much
of the sickness prevailing among the
natives of Alaska is caused by the eat
ing Of food which has not been prop
erly prepared. The waters of Alaska
teen with fish, and wild berries grow
In profusion throughout its vast area,
| but in many villages, according to the
ancient practice, II is said, fish for win
ter use are dried In the sun, crudely
smoked or buried in the earth, while
the berries are preserved In oil. In or
der to replace these primitive meth
Ods, bureau officials have sent some
canning outfits for use in preserving
fish and meat, as well as berries and
vegetables, to three Of the largest viii
lagos. 1t is hoped that the use of
such outfits will become general.
Those experts Of the bureau who
make a speciality of this Alaskan work
say that one of the most effective
agencies for the advancement in civili-
ZatlOn of a native village is the es-
tabllshment in II of cooperative
store owned by the natives and man.
aged by them, under the supervision
of a teacher of one Of Uncle Sans
public schools. 1t is said that these
stores result In the securing of articles
of food and clothing at equitable
prices, the division among the natives
themselves of profits which would 9TH
erwlse go to a white trader, and In the
acquiring by the natives Of self-conf-
dence and experience in business af-
fairs. The bureau experts say that It.
is most encouraging to note the ability
which the natives have shown in con-
ducting these enterprises. According
to one Of the experts, who has looked
closely into this work, the income of
one Of the villages has increased $50
per cent because Of the establishment
of one of these cooperative stores.
For some time past there has been
a policy on the part Of the govern
ment to set aside carefully selected
tracts to which large numbers of ma
tives can be attracted, and within
which, secure from the intrusion of un-
scrupulous white men, the natives can
obtain fish and game and conduct their
own industrial and commercial enter
prises. One of the latest tracts to be
so set aside was that on the Kobuk
river, which was made in compliance
with the urgent request of the natives |
on Kotzebue sound, who wished to mi
CRATE from the village which had been |
their home from time immemorial, due, |
it is said, to the fact that life in it had |
become increasingly difficult, the de-
of mining and the influx of |
white men having resulted in the kill
ing off of game animals and in great
of fuel. Within their new res
ervation on the shores Of the remote
Arctic river these natives can secure
an abundant supply of fish, game and
timber, and can build up new village
for themselves.