The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1961-12-21
ALASKA

hidohd III It's Itinerary. SoASS
quently, those few comments
which follow are based only on
interviews with Bureau person
nel-including the Juneau Area
Director-and information from
questionnaires circulated among
the residents of twenty Alaskan
native villages and organizations.
Because of its location, its pat
tern of settlement, and its ira
ditional and actual relationship
with the Federal Government,
Alaska requires a separate, de-
tailed study and we recommend
that such investigation be under
taken as soon as possible.
From its limited exposure to
the Alaska situation, the Task
Force feels the following items
should be given special consider
alton both In future studies and
in immediate policy decisions af-
fecting the Indians, Aleuts and
Eskimos of Alaska.
1. A main concern of all native
groups is the lack of year-round
employment. Fishing and trap
ping are seasonal occupations at
best, and in recent years have
not been adequate to support the
family. One village reported that
during the winter months IS per
cent of its people were on direct
relief. Another village, in the
west, reported that only thirteen
of its working force of $50 were
regularly employed. In south
west Alaska, where the economy
is based almost solely on salmon
packing, the continuing declines
in the salmon runs have caused
heavy losses, not only to the In
dian-owned canneries, but to the
canning industry as a whole. The
community-owned canneries are
heavily in debt. They have been
financed through the revolving
loan fund. Careful management
and improvement in the fish runs
are needed If the industry is to
return to prosperity. The Task
Force suggests that the Bureau
add to its Alaska staff at least
one person who is experienced in
the fish canning business. Such
a man would provide technical
help to the managers of the sew
eral canneries, and would in eff
feet be a general supervisor or
manager.
Various suggestions have been
made to bring about improve
ment in economic conditions
among the native groups. PROF
ects which would provide en-
ployment and also benefit the
communities include roads, flood
control, sanitation, tourist az
fractions, and resource develop
ment. Some communi les have, or
are close to, mineral resources,
especially coal ard gold. Except
for the large loans to the com
munity canneries and stores,
which were initiated more than
ten years ago, little money has
been available for loans to Alas.
ka. Recent loans have been linn
tied almost exclusively to own
ers of fishing boats. IL the revolv-
ing loan fund is enlarged by the
Congress, credit activities in
Alaska should be expanded.
In contrast with the canneries,
the community owned native
stores have been notably success
full. Many of these were started
before the revolving loan fund
was established, but loans from
the fund have given most of them
a sound base, and also made pos
sible the organization of IAN
ICA", ALASKA Native Industries
Cooperative Association, through
which the stores sell furs, ivory,
baskets, and other native prod
ucts, and buy groceries and other
supplies to sell in the villages.
The stores and AMIGA are nom
profit organizations which have
helped to raise the standard of
living in the villages. They assist
individuals to sell their products
at fair prices; they keep down
the prices of staples which they
sell, and they afford incidental
opportunity for training in bust
ness.
A handicap to economic devel-
opment is the uncertainty about
the ownership of the lands which
the natives use and claim. The
Congress has reserved to itself
J the resolution of this issue and
many bills to settle the native
claims have been introduced.
None has come close to passage
despite the fact that nearly a
century has gone by since the
purchase of Alaska from Russia.
In recent years the land claims
bills have been pushed aside in
the drive for Statehood. Now that
Alaska is a State, the Depart
ment should renew its efforts
to obtain satisfactory legislation.
The natives in all the areas are
deeply c0ncarpad that the lands