The Nenana news. (Nenana, Alaska) 1916-1918, 1917-08-18
NATIVES MOVE
FROM VILLAGES;
SCHOOLS EMPTY

" VIVA - 49, - -
ter. superintendent Of govern
ment schools for the Yukon
district. who was in Nenana
during the week on tour OF
inspection along the Tanana
river. the natives of the inter
ior are deserving their villages
TO take up land under the home
stead privilege extended to-
them by the government. Mr.
Roulter SAYS that between for
tv and fifty homesteads have
been taken up by the natives.
and in quite a number of in
stances they have developed
a commedable capacity for
farming. Numerous families
which he visited along the river.
have comfortable homes and
little gardens which supply
them with fresh vegetables
during the summer. Others of
:he natives. less enterprlSlng,
have done too little work on
their homesteadS to entltle
them to hold the land.
demonstrating has become
so popular among the natives,
Mr.. Boulter says. that the prob
lem of educating the children
has assumed serious proper
lions. The families have become
so scattered that it has been
found necessary to close several
of the government schools,
and the attendance at others
of the schools has decreased
to such an extent that there
is little to keep the teachers
occupied. At Tanana. for III
stance. where there Was a
large attendance a few wears
AGO. there are now scarcely
enough native children left TO
warrant the government IN
keeping the school open.
Regarding the recommenda-
ton Of the Ruby grand jury
that three of the Yukon river
schools be reOpened. Br. Boul-
ter explained that these schools
had been closed for no other
reason than that no children
were left in the villages. The
families had moved away,
some of them for the purpose
of taking up land. Whether or
not the schools will be reopen
ed will depend upon the num-
Der of prospective pupils and
the amount of money available.
Mr.. Boulter says that his de-
partment. like all others in
Alaska. is usually short of
funds.
If the children of the native
homesteaders are to be educat-
ed. it will be necessary for the
government to inaugurate a
new system of schooling. lie
has been suggested that board
ing schools be established al
central points. where the chill
dren can he taken care OF dur
inc the school term. This plan
was adopted by several of the
states and found to work sat
i>factorily and it is believed
that similar action will solve
the problem in Alaska. where
the families are scattered over
Il large district.
Mr.. Boulter is one of five
superintendent in charge of
the educational work among
the native. in Alaska. under
the supervision of the depart
ment of the interior. His dish
rict includes all of what is gen
orally referred to as the In
terror of Alaska. taking in the
Yukon river and its tributar-
les. The schools. however. are
confined TO the Yukon river
proper. In addition TO the
government schools. there are
several mission schools, entire
ly independent of the govern
ment.
Mr.. Boulter has been in the
service of the government for
eleven years. His headquarters
is at Tanana, from which point
he makes frequent trips up and
down the Yukon river, looking
after his wards. His present
trip up the Tanana is a special
one. made for the purpose of
LOOKING into tho homestead Sit