The Kusko times., 1933-09-02

This program is designed to pro- vide roads, water systems, sanitary an dother works in or near Indian villages.
 1 Mir. Dimond has had several talks about this with John Collier, Com missioner of Indian Affairs, the re- suit being that the latter has ap- proved the progra min toto and sent it to Harold L. Ickes, the Public Works Administrator, with strong recommendation that it be carried | out.
 If this is done, the plan is te eu- ploy Indians whenever possible, so that they may receive as large a pro portion of the expended funds as pos sible. MT. Collier, Dr. Gordon and Delegate Dimond find themselves in complete agreement on that point. Works would be carried out in Ip- dian village sail over the Territory. It may be mentioned in passing that S35,0 ,0OO has already been made avail able for a road at Hoonah, the sut- xey for which has .already been made by the Bureau of Public Roads.
 There are 7separate projects in the program, ranging from Point Barrow in the north to Alaska's southern boundary. An Indian popp- lation of l4,653 persons would derive direct and 1mmRdiate benefit.
 In a lengthy letter, which was the medium for formal presentation of the program to Commissioner Collier, Delegate Dimond said in part:
 '"l. All of these sprojects are fpr the welfare of the native population of Alaska, covering both the Indians and the Eskimos, but not including the white population. The past win ter was terribel one for them, and the next swinter unfortunately gives promise of being almost equally se- were, by reason of the. general ecen- omic depression affecting adversely the fishing industry, upon which most of these people depend, as well as all other industries. The public works heretofore allotted.for Alaska will do vast amount of good generally in the Territory, but that benefit will help principally the white. population, and only to minor extent the native people of Alaska. While, on the other hand, the projects. covered in the en- closed list will be. done ip the. native villages. and settlements, and upracti- cally all of it can be done by the, na- lives. themselves; F. :. :.
 ..2. As. a historical matter, the na- tives of Alaska have been sadly nek- lected in the past. While I realize |sand admire the really excellent work that has been done, and is being done by the Office of Education. and by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, for the Alaska. Indians, it is nevertheless true that these: native people have not re- eeived -oneshalf, perhaps not one- third, -of. the aid from the Federal Treasury that they would have re- ceived had they been members of one, or some, of the tribes of Indians in the United States. "1f these projects are undertaken, |sas. l hope they will be, may I then make few further suggestions? "a. Care should be taken to ..em- .ploy the natives so far as possible in doing this work. This will probably mean that the work cannot be done by contract, but must be carried out under the direct supervision of the Government by day labor, and ma terials produced in Alaska, such as lumber, should be used as far as prac- ticable and consistent with econom- ical construction. In this connection it may be well to call to your atten- tion the really excellent work that has been done by the natives of Met