The Daily Alaska empire., 1948-04-02
COMMUNICATION

To The Editor, Daily Alaska Elm pire: In reply to your editorial published in March 18th. issue ti- tied Indian Claims, I would like to state that members of The Alas ka Native Brotherhood are well aware of their potential political power to which you referred, also they are sorrowfully aware that in the interests of commerce and the whitemans scheme of things the future security of themselves and their posterity is of little or no con- sequence.
 Throughout the years, with the advancement of our so called ci- vilization, the Indian, with mixed emotions of bewilderment, reluc- tance, and despair, has stood silently aside and submitted to the trans gressions and injustices which the whiteman has perpetrated against him. Here, within government founded upon the principles of Li- berty, Justice, and Equality, where in all men are created equal, he has stolidly endeavored to endure and exist despite the exploitation to which he has been constantly and. relentlessly subjected.
 To those who reiterate that the Alaska native is citizen entitled to all the privileges pertaining thereto, may l ask; is your obser- vation of humanity so distorted, so blind that you may sincerely 1 believe. and steadfastly maintain, that the Indian can, or will be ac- cepted within the social and in- dustrial circles of your community? Will you deny that he is the victim of discrimination, or that he shall ever be allowed to forget that he is a member of the "one class of our citizens" as you referred to him in your editorialP
 In the seccnd paragraph you sta ted that the stubborn insistence oi the Indian claims had won them no love from residents of South eastern Alaska cities who would have benefited from such an in- dustry, can you reveal any instance in which the Indians have derived any sembance of affection or con- sideration from the whiteman in general? Perhaps the sorrowful plight of the Navafo people is shining example. of this love to which you refer.
 I do not wonder that the Alaska Native Brotherhood has elected members of their kind to the House of Territorial Representatives for regrettable as it may be, ingratious as they may seem, can you blame them for declining to appreciate the type of affection and tender ness which the whitemem would so lavishlly bestow upon them?
 Now, despite the 1acu that the admission must reveal my shame, it may astound you to learn that I am a whiteman. who many years ago witnessed the coming of the pulp mills to the Puget Sound area, I shall refrain from extensive elu- citation upon the subject and con- cede that this industry did, ana yet does, employ some few hundred of wage slaves, who, no doubt, have accumulated vast and substantial wealth from their weary labors
 However, often have I wondered what has become of my many child hood friends of the .Squaxin tribe and the many other Indians who dwelt happily in that land of theH rightful heritage-those who de- pended upon the fishing, clam dlg- ging, and oyster culture for their humble but contented existence.
 Why were their homes, abandoned and sacrificed to the elements, why did we see the skeletons of theH boats lying forlornly upon the beaches where a death shroud oi decaying fish netting yelled their naked ribs, and waved in 1eeple mockery to the passing wiho9 Surely it could not have been que to excessive pollution of those boun- tiful and beautiful waters
 How long may nation dedicated to Christianity, Faith. and Unlty endure within an atmosphere oi class distinction, color discrimina- ton. money-power, and greed, when shall the Indian, the Negro, ana all those impoverished gain Iree- dom from the shackles of oppreS- sion, enabling them to cherish with in their hearts sincere ana brotherly love toward t,ieir fellow mem
 L. c. Nelson c,;.La Alaska