The Wrangell sentinel., 1956-06-15
WILLIAM H. OLSEN. ANS AREA DIRECTOR. OUTLINES PROGRAM


 development are the three major points being emphasized by the AL aska Native Service in it's program to assist the native people of Alas ka from the far reaches of the Arc tic to the panhandle of Sautheast, William H. Olsen, Area Director of ANS, an agency of the Interior De- partment, told the Chamber of Commerce in an address before that group at its Tuesday evening dinner meeting The Director flew down from Juneau Tuesday as a special guest of the Chamber. He returned north Wednesday morn ing.
 Ours is an organization to help the native people of Alaska, Olsen said in his remarks. But the plight of the Alaska native is not good This is a fact We must recog- nize. The native economy in the Interior villages is drastically changed by the advancement of modern-day civilization. We have with us today a changing economy of person that the land has not been able to keep up with.
 We are in business to assist those natives who do not have the same opportunities that we have, and the battle lines are drawn. The great crusade to assist the native people, in particular the three car dinal points of the Bureau of In dian Affairs health. education and economic development - is' surging forward under full power Through the energetic application of these points we are determined to defeat a great and powerful en- emy - disease. starvation, Hitter acv and economic poverty.
 Touching on the part Wrangell Institute plays in the overall pro gram. the Director said:
 During the past year an eXten- sive construction program was completed at this outstanding insti- tuition of learning in which the classroom buildings. dormitories, kitchens. dining room. and quart -prs for the staff were rehabilitated to conform with the Bureau of m dian Affairs policy of meeting the needs of a group of out-of-school children numbering approximately 215 boys and girls in grades N,oroh & heretofore With nc school Facilities in their home villages. We snent nearly S40O.O00 in the com nIotion of this construction pro gram at Wrangel' Institute.
 Tn addition to the r"gUl"r school program there are especially train ad staff members and ample class room space to provide for students six to 15 years of age who have never been to school and are just .tartiro their educatiOn. This pro gram has been stepped up tremend- ously within the last two years. De- signed to meet the needs of these children. and under the guidance of Mir. Watkins Principal. it Is achieving overwhelming success. The~e are instances where older children are assimilating the equiv aIent of four grades in one, in the basic school subjects.
 Health Program
 fin order to provide for the great number of children who come from areas where health services are not available. an extensive health program has been inaugur- ated with a part-time physician m attendance and a modern health center.
 Every precaution is exercised to see that the children's spiritual needs are cared for. A very worth while religious educational pro gram is conducted, through the as sistance of the local missionaries and other church representatives. Consequently. the boys and girls arc afford~1 C0~-inre1 contact with thei- ch"rcN and the assist ance extended to them through this activity.
 "Time is also given to social ac- +ivitics and +o s0ccial activities such as music dramn. intramural athletics. Other stiwTlating events Are developing socially ana adapt ing to the prevailing culture are nlanned.
 "Freruent home contacts are maintained so the children will feel close to their families and communities Reports from parents are encouraging - they a~e aston ished al the development in child ren. and the childreo gre anxious 10 return to Wrange'l Institute.
 SuhstnrtioI Pavrou
 "WrangeI Institute has 45 em- ployees and an annual payroll or a. bout S19O.OOO. We spent approxi- mately $2SS.OOO the past year for all education activities.
 "The Bureau of Indian Affairs has an aggressive school building program in Alaska. geared toward education in their home communlt- ies for a greater number of boys and girls. But until this is done ~,,r on1v alternative is to educate these children in boarding school. For years to lcO-oo there will he