Tundra times., 1963-07-01
Editorial
 The New Economy


 ageod existence in the Arctic country The very nature of inc country with its extreme conditions called for coopera- lion that was practiced to high degree made survival lin inc Arctic possible is doubtful that people in the Arctic regions would have survived without it. The sharing philosophy of the natives is beginning to suffer sebaeks in inc modern economy of the natives The cash and semicash economy is making nroads into it. The very nature of inc dollar earned through labor does no lend itself readily to inc sharing of it.
 At the present time great many natives unedu- cated More and more jobs require at least high school educaon great bulk of inc native population do not have this and finding it hard to make lving At the present time, and their families are be- ing drawn to centers like Kotzebue Semicash the |nony there Some manage to live well but many of them don't Those that do not have jobs become public charges They exist on the meager returns of welfare money Many of these people in circumstances of this kind losing their initiative and live from day to day with little hope. Many of these people came from hunting communities where they fared better.
 There are hunting communities in Alaska that have actually improved their economy with cash They the experimenters. They the people who have adapted modern convenences to enhance their way of life. Where they formerly lived strictly by hunting, they have estab ished cash to supplement their hunting economy. This adaptation is working we'll for these villages.
 With cash realized they have obtained outboard tors that gave them excellent mobility to enhance their hunting ability. They have obtained washing machines, good beds, better but expensive ways of heating their homes, radios They have adopted foods they ke foUr sugar. tea coffee, butter, bacon, beans rce and many Eother food items.
 Although having acquired inc above items, their main economy continues to be hUnng They have found that lthey live we'll with inc combination of inc two cUl lures but many finding it difficult to get seasonal jobs to meet the needs They found that by huntng, SUD- pIemented by cash income they live we'll throughout Ithe year.
 Men in the hunting communities would like nothing better than few months of work each year acquire cash Many men would be satisfied with three months work. Four months five would be adequate.
 The fact that haven't been able 10 get to responsible people s that many natives in Alaska need Iony work few months out of the year to live fortaby These responsible people have only been able to visualize year-round jobs for natives.
 The yearround jobs would be fine for those who qualify but the economists, whoever they should realize that most natives will not be able acquire year round jobs for long time to These people who should not be bypassed while inc edUcaon of young native people is going Many will be hunting for "a long lime yet and if they given some help they can live good life.
 Without inc benefit of any help from science or serv ices natives developing culture by making remark able adaptations to modern convenenoes They fusing their culture with inc modes of civilization by selecting those things that enhance their economy They have found happy medium of selecting good things of both cultures.
 We cannot help but think that study of inc new cultural change be pursued by some science qualified probe into if fully
 4Lz1 l.