CHEMAWA(t AMERICAN
Printed at Chemawa, Oregon, and Devoted to the Interests of Indian Education
Vol. XXXI
Wednesday, Jan. 15, 1930
No. 18
WASHINGTON AUTHORITIES DO NOT FAVOR
ENROLLMENT OF ALASKANS
A few years ago nearly one-half of the students en
rolled at Chemawa were natives from Alaska. At one
time there were nearly 350 Alaskan students at Che
mawa. The number has been decreasing'eacb,) year
(F rom the Q uiver of J osh B illings )
It iz a safer thing enny time to follow a man’s advice during the past five years until now less thau)0 re
main. Most of these will probably be returned to
than hiz example.
Alaska after the close of school next June. This will
It takes branes tew make a smart man, but good no doubt end the experiment of bringing Alaskan na
tives to the States by the Government to be educated.
luck often makes a famous one.
• This will probably be bad news for some of the am
Fun iz a safty-valve that lets the steam pressure oph bitious young people of Alaska, for the records of
many who attended school at Chemawa in former
from the biler, and keeps things from bussting.
years proves that the privilege of coming here was
If virtu did not so often manage tew make herself productive of outstanding results in many instances.
The writer can name many former pupils of this
repulsive, vice would not be half so attracktive:
school who are now holding positions of trust and
When a man iz thoroly kontended, he iz either too responsibility in Alaska, among them teachers in
lazy tew want ennything, or tew big a phool to en government schools, merchants, those who loom
large in the fishing industry of Alaska, a minister or
joy it.
two, a judge, newspaper men, electricians and engin
If men are honest they will tell you that their suc eers, in fact, real men and women of every walk of
cess in life iz more ov a wonder tew them than it iz life who received their start at Chemawa and of whom
we are proud. In the past the Alaskans have shared
to you.
in the glory and justification of this great school.
The education of the Alaskan natives is under the
Success don’t konsist in never making blunders, but
direction of the Alaskan Divison of the U. S. Bureau
in never making the same one the second time.
of Education and it is understood more liberal appro
Many a man haz lost a good posishun in this world priations are now being made by Congress for the
support of schools in Alaska and for the establishment
by letting go tew spit on hiz hands.
of industrial schools for the natives in their own vil
The man who iz alwus bragging of hiz wife in pub lages. There has been in the past considerable oppo
lick, duz it more out of pride ov himself than love for sition to the policy of sending Alaskan pupils, partic
ularly small children, so far from their homes to be
her.
kept in school for years without any opportunity for
If a man haz got 80 thousand dollars at interest and contact with their people. It is also alleged that the
owns the house he lives in, it ain’t much trouble to be climate in the States did not always agree with the
Alaskan children and a good many developed tuber
a philosopher.
culosis and died here. A few years ago we understand
When you strike ile, stop borin’; menny a man has a Congressional Committee went to Alaska and made
bored klean through and let all the ile run out at the a study of conditions there with the result that in 1924
a clause was inserted in the Indian Appropriation Bill
bottom.
prohibiting further enrollment at Chemawa of Alaskans
Don't forget one thing, young man, there iz a thou except in emergency cases and then only on the indi
sand people in this world who kan hurt you, to one vidual order of the Secretary of the Interior.
that kan help you.
(Continued on page 2)