Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1917-08-17

"Why you trying to educate the Eskimosi
Why don't you let them alone? They were happy
and were able to exist before you began to change
their mode of life"
These are the questions that asked and an
swered In The Eskimo, monthly magazine pub
lished at Nome Alaska in the interests of Eskimos
OF the northwest district of Alaska. Walter O.
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 If they are
really sincere enough to 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 ittest with the assump
ton that the Eskimo Is not ft TO survive. The
second class claim peculiar insight into the frame
of mind OF the ancient Eskimo. who, they assert,
was especially contented individual and further
more they insist that the Eskimo Of today is not
contented
Eskimo Fit and Able.
"This set of critics insists taking the position.
ndefensble In this day and generation, that educa
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-
tlon is ut and able to survive, and claim that by
our system of education for him making
him not only more fit 10 survive, but that he will
be a vital factor in the development of northern
Alaska
'"The Eskimo Is not dependent. On the contrary.
he Is. I'm the present condition. real and vital
factor in the wealth OF the country. He has never
received ration from the government; he can sup
port himself, not always according to our stand
ards Il IS true but IL is better for him TO eat strict
ly native food than for him TO learn TO expect the
government 70 support him. The wall so often
heard from ignorant but presumably charitable
people, Why don't you give the poor people some
foodf II needed would make paupers of self-sup-
porting and noble race. We are proud OF the fact
that we have not fed the Eskimo. We are proud
Of him as man because he feeds himself
zone reason why primitive races have so often
been pushed to the wall by the white race has
been that the white race has coveted aud needed
the land As far as we can see. for years to come
the white man viii not make any attempt to push
the Eskimo of his part OF the map. While there
win undoubtedly be developments In mining yet
for long time to come the Eskimo win have
plenty OF room In northern Alaska Therefore.
even II this northern part of Alaska through some
unexpected development. should become desirable
Tor large population we believe that. with what
development the Eskimo has already received and
the additional development that even FIVE years
more of undIsturbed possession OF his northern
Businesses will give him. he win be well fitted to
meet advanced economic conditions.
s'rhe keynote OF our school system for the Eski-
mo Is its direct relation TO the village life. Thus
the school republic becomes the village council
the school garden soon becomes the village garden
The cooking class becomes the bread-baking class
FOR the village the cleanup of the school grounds
becomes the village cleanup the bench work for
he boys class becomes the boat and sled building
center for the village. And. most striking OF all.
the schoolboy who is sent to the reindeer herd as
IN apprentice in four years becomes the trained