The Alaska daily empire., 1919-11-28
Alaska Native Brotherhood Adopt Memorials Asking For Legislation and
 Changes To Help
MANY THINGS WANTED
Would Abolish Clan Black mail, Indian Reserves, Alien Fishing Selling in
 Marriage, Etc.

Of the recent convention of the Ala S ka Native Brotherhood at Sitka was the adoption of memorials addressed to Gov. Thomas Riggs Jr., urging the passage and enforcement of laws which it is believed would tend to improve the conditions of the Native Indian Americans of Alaska. Among the things which they ask for in the abolition of the old Indian custom of blackmail, or, in the Thlinget tongue, "Ka-aah-da-do"; the proven tion of parents or other relatives from selling women in marriage; the abolition of the Indian townsite re. serves and the placing of those town. sites already reserved on the same basis as other Alaskan communities the prevention of those who are not full American citizens, from fishing in the waters of Alaska; the abolition of the alleged custom of Oriental labor brought to Alaska to work .ip the c1nneries of bringing drugs into the Territory and manufacturing in tpAioatIHS LII lHho W nniSh IL lS dtlO6cu they give to Indian women and re- sulting in their demoralization.
 Recent Case of BIackmaiI Cited
 The memorail requesting the aboli- tion of blackmail alleges that the old custom among the Indians of Alaska where one clan demands the payment of indemnity from another clan for the death of member of the clan making the demand upon penalty of inflicting death upon the other clan in retaliation is still practiced. At, tached to the memorial are affidavits which show that in the month of Oc- tober members of the Eagle clan made such a demand upon the Rock wan-tons on account of an alleged death of an Eagle in the long past, and as result of such demand the sum of $271 was collected from mem bers of the Kock-wan-tons and paid to members of the Eagles. The mem orial asks to have this tranSa ction in vestigated and that the custom be prevented in the future.
 Selling Women in Marriage
 The memorial asking for the aboll- tion of the practice of selling women in marriage is as follows:
 WHEREAS, There is an old tribal custom among the Indians of Alaska which permits of the sale in mar, riage of daughters of marriageab.e age, and
 WHEREAS, such practice is un- just. to the young women of our race in that they have no choice as to making their own future happiness, and
 WHEREAS, we believe this prac- tice contrary to the principles upon which our Government was founded, and detrimental to the progress of the rising generation of Indian Am ericans in Alaska,
 NOW THEN, Your Memorialists urge that proper meas ures be adopted and placed upon the Territorial statutes and enforced in order that this great evil may be 
 Native Townsite Reservations
 The memorial asking to make h. dian villages amendable to the same taxation and other laws as the white mems cities calls attention to the that it has been charged in the last two Delegate elections that the fact that Indians reside in towns that are set apart for the ex- elusive use of the Indians has been used as an excuse to seek to dis franchise Indians who desire and ought to be permitted to vote. It claims that such reservations are un- American in principle, that the In dians desire the privileges of citizen ship and permits the interference that they are willing to bear all the that citizens assume in tho way of taxation and otherwise. that they only want chance to work ond develop under the same laws and rules that govern the white people. orientais Operate Gambling Tables
 The memorial referring to Orient als in Alaska follows:
 ; WHEREAS, the Oriental labor element in the canneries of Alaska are bringing into the Territory. drugs which they use and givesto Alaskan native women, thereby lowering the morals of the native women. and
 WHEREAS, the above named ele- ment. along with native men and women manufacture and use spirit. uous liquors notwithstanding Terri torial and Federal law to the con- trary. and
 WHEREAS. said Oriental ele- ment is running gambling tables and other games of chance thereby entic-