The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1917-08-24

"Why you trying TO educate the Eslmosf
Why don't you let them aone1 They were happy
and were able 10 exist before you began 10 change
their mode Of life"
These are the questions that are asked and
swered 10 The Eskimo. a monthly magazine pub
lished at Nome Alaska, in the interests of Eskimos
OF the northwest district of Alaska. Walter Q.
Shields superintendent of the work Of the bureau
Of education department Of the interior. In north.
western Alaska, who writes the leading article In
this new magazine Of the North says:
"The people who ask these questions, II they are
really sincere enough 10 warrant any consideration,
can be divided into two classes. First, those who
display their scientific knowledge by quoting the
law Of the survival OF the ttest with the assump-
ton that the Eskimo Is not TT TO survive. The
second class claim peculiar insight into the frame
of mind of the ancient Eskimo, Who they assert,
especially contented individual, and further
more they insist that the Eskimo Of today is not
cOntented.
Eskimo Fn and Able.
This set Of critics insists on taking the position.
indefenshle In this day and generation that educR
ton is a bad thing for people The claim Of our
service is that the Eskimo by reason OF his inner
ent qualities and because Of his geographical posi-
ton Is fit and able TO survive, and claim that by
our system Of education for him We are making
him not only more fit 10 survive. but that he Will
be a vital factor in the development u northern
Alaska.
'sThe Eskimo Is not dependent on the contrary.
he u.s. even IN the present condition, real and vital
factor In the wealth Of the country. lie has never
received a ration from the government: he sup
port himself not always according 20 our stand
ards Il Is true but II t. better for him 10 eat strict
IL native food than for him 20 learn 90 expect the
government 90 support him. The wall 80 often
heard from ignorant but presumably charitable
people. why don't you give the poor people some
fOody II needed would make paupers ~ "A self-sup-
porting and noble race. We are proud Of the fact
that we have not fed the Eskimo We are proud
Of him a. q man because he feeds himself
aOna reason why primitive races have 80 often
been pushed 90 the wall by the white race has
been that the white race has coveted aud nesded
tho land As far rs we can see. for years SO cofne
the white man will not make any attempt 20 push
the Eskimo OF bis part ~ the map. while there
viii undoubtedly be Developments IN mining yet
for q long tine TO cnfne the Eskimo vil haTe
pIauty 81 room In northern Alaska. Therefore.
even II this northern part 81 AaskH, through some
unexpected Development should berome desirable
for large population. we believe that. with what
development the Eskimo has already received and
the additional development that even Eve years
more Of gudisturtsd possession 81 his northern
Businesses win give him. he win be well Fitted 10
meet advanced economic conditions.
The KEYNOTE Of our school system FOR the Esi-
,,o IL its direct relation 10 the village life Thus
the school republic becomes the village council.
ar srbool garden soon becomes the village garden.
-. cooking class becomes the bresd-baklnE class
-, the village the cleanup Of the school grounds
beooues the village cleanup, the bench work for
the bovS' class becomes the boat and sled building
enter for the village. And. most striking 81 ali.
the srbooIboy who is sent 10 the reindeer herd a.
an apprentice in four years becomes the trained