Omaha daily bee., 1919-07-08
Reindeer and the Esquimos
Theodore G. Ioslin in Boston Transcript.


Washington-Depletion of walrus, whale and
other wild game threatened the extinction of
Alaska's Eskimo population score of years
ago. Today, thanks to the efforts of DR.. Shell
don Jackson and five metropolitan newspapers,
the Eskimos are literally living on the fat of
anywhere else in the world his transition has
been made possible by the introduction of REIN
deer from Siberia which have multiplied from
small herd to 100000 and Alaska can care for
100000 of these animals, thus assuring to the
north a great industry and to the nation an i'm
portant source of food supply.
The Eskimo would have been content to loll
around his igloo as long as the cold weather,
whale oil and blubber lasted. but that was be-
fore the white man persisted in cSvilizing him,
before lolling was cassed as laziness and be-
fore evolution of the Eskimo from hunter and
Now, instead of idling away his time, he is
preparing for the reindeer fairs, for this is the
season for the meets in Arctic Alaska. Here
the Eskimo brings his handiwork for exhibit
ton along with the sewing OF the native women
and girls of the mission Schools here races
are held prizes won and reindeer exchanged and
sold. Reports are made by delegates from the
various reindeer stations; new head herders are
chosen and Improvements discussed for the gen.
eral betterment of the industry
Each year, as the fair draws near, the Eskimo
may be seen busily working over long strips
pair of reindeer mitts. Visions of the races of
the reindeer barbecue which accompanies each
fair, and the exhibits of sleighs snowshoes, har-
nesses, halters and mittens, come to his mind,
and he IS glad that he has been named dele
gate. For, aside from the honor implied, the
Eskimo is sociable by nature, is easily amused
and thoroughly enjoys the sport which the
races and various meetings afford.
Herders and their deer arrive at the fair
grounds "a hours prior to the opening, each
delegation floating pennant bearing the name
OF the station from which they come. At
Noatak the situation is ideal. Extending around
a little creek bed, in the foothills, thick spruce
timber forms protecting wall about the colony
OF tents which the delegates pitch upon their
arrival. The racing course is on small plateau
which may be easily viewed by the spectators
AS one drives out to the grounds, eight miles
from Noatak, he strikes end of the race
course. 1t is staked every 200 yards with fresh
ly trimmed poles, from the top of which futter
red, white and blue pennants, made by the sew
ing class of the Noatak Mission. For the day
of all days in the Arctic is at hand the day
when the Eskimo hopes to capture the blue rib
bon for the feetest deer. Patient and long
have been his efforts to get his into proper
trim. For weeks the choicest moss has been
chosen and carefully guarded for the con-
sumption of the prize animal. Experience has
taught the herder that he must feed often, but
not to excess, as fat deer like fat horse, is
not a prize winner
The Eskimo drives on the course few min
utes before the time set for the race. Harness
and sled are new and shining. For the last
time his mittened hands travel over the har-
ness to make sure that all is as it should be-
The racer is tied to post driven into the snow,
for it is more than the driver can do to hold his
deer in check. The rope is cut as the shot is
fired, and they are off-the reindeer running
neck and neck, the drivers hecking the backs
OF the deer and enjoying the race fully as much
as any Readville enthusiast. 1t may be two
mile or l0-n1le race. As the winner crosses
the finish line the deer is decorated with
blue ribbon and the driver is awarded a gun,
an ivory knife or similar prize.
The days are given over to the races, visit
ing the exhibits and bartering and butcherng
the deer, but the evenings reserved for the
more serious business of the roundup. Reports
made for feeding and tanning reindeer. Dele
gates are chosen for the next year and in
structed to organize local clubs. A board of
head herdsmen, experienced in the business of
handling the animals, is elected to supervise the
work for the two ensuing years.
The early history of the reindeer industry
is romantic. Just at the time the Eskimo Of
Alaska was in danger of being wiped out be-
cause of the depletion of the wild game on
which he lived, DR.. Sheldon Jackson, mission
airy, together with pioneer prospectors, sug-
| gested the introduction of reindeer from ST.
IBERIA. The suggestion received little support.
Instead, it brought open criticism and censure
on those responsible. Not until DR.. Jackson
was given the active support of the FIVE news
papers was public sympathy aroused in the I'M
dertaking These papers collected fund by
popular subscription, making possible the pur-
from Siberia. Realizing that the country was
interested, congress thereafter made appropria-
tons