Tundra times., 1963-02-18
The Language Problem
Monday, Feb. 1s, 1s6s

The type ot instruction the younger generafIon has been getting in the past has been such that they have become over-awed by new world civilization That, in sef key to forgetting of the finest traditions of l inc past in inc Arctic world
 Instead of feeling embarrassed of inc culture of their ancestors inc younger generation should have feeling of pride The culture of the Arctic not established by bumbIing and bUnging of people, but rather by races of people who solved of inc most formidable obstacles inc world has had to offer.
 To lose siqht of the fine traditions of the natives of Alaska in opinion, disastrous and unthnkabe Our ancestors Those who have such tendencies should people of unquestioned bravery, resouceuIness fellow lship-of pure UnadUlterated guts. There should be no room to belitte people like our ancesors. Those who have such tendencies should evaluate their rich heritage.
 t has already been demonstrated that inc natives of Alaska quick to adapt items of world civilization into their mode of living not necessarily to change it but to enhance it.
 Take, for instance inc rif|e The natives adapted this weapon 10 their great advantage when they found that was better weapon than the ones they used in ancient times.
 And SO if is with many other items of world civilization The natives have 10 like the conveniences and will abandon them, and of the Tundra Times not about 10 advise them that they should. In fact would encourage them to adapt themselves 10 other fine things of new world civilization but not at the expense of abandoning of OUT culture altogether
 One of the most disturbing situations in native schools regarding native languages Quite few years back d. rectWes apparently issued in native schools 10 ds courage the of native languages in order o make me teaching of English easier In inc opinion ot the lundra Times these directives indirectly have had the efec or robbing people of their heritage.
 Ii was the experience of this editor to find in remote villages where inc parents of children encouraged to talk English in inc home instead of the usual Eskimo lan gUage The effect of this disturbing when member ot a family said with apparent pride, These children can hardly understand inc Eskimo language anymore"
 In the lower 48 states two three foreign languages are now being taught in many elementary schools Are the students there required 10 forget English in order 10 learn foreign languages?
 It has been pointed out that pupils are more apt 10 learn inc Enqsh language much thoroughly it they study other languages along with it. Why shoUdnt ms be true if native students allowed to learn or know both languages?
 In view of what has been said in this editorial about native languages, it seems imperative that the younger oeneation of native Aaskans be made to realize that their native languages are invaluable keys through which some of inc richest facets of Arctic culture be unoded for inc benefit of ourselves we'll as inc rest of inc world
 The vital nature of native languages becomes douby Important as of contributing and enhancing the already known cultures this earth This value, in itself, should point that the languages should be kept alive
 Science beginning to learn that the culture of the Arctic is of the most thoroughly established of cultures inc history of man. As said earlier not devel oped by races of bunbng and bungine people, It was developed by people of keen minds, courage, and in- domitable spirit.
 To have tendencies of dscrediting ancestors, or to be embarrassed by their ways of life, is to dshonor hem Instead should be unresevedY proud of having sprung from such great people who had inc nerve and guts