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About The Chemawa American (Chemawa, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (March 11, 1931)
Page 4 The CHEMAWA AMERICAN ALASKAN INDIANS OBJECT TO RESERVATION SYSTEM (Continued from page 1) DISTRICT TOURNEY NEXT, AND THEN BASEBALL With the bleechers moved into baseball formation and the balls and bats in evidence we know that the “grand old game’’ is just around the corner. In fact, we enjoyed enough sun shine last week to make our first call for candidates, and all sizes responded. The loosening-up process began immediate ly with indoor balls and bats. Our cross-country runners will have to show more action than they have displayed here lately if they wish to show many heels to the Washington high runners who come here March 24 for their annual race. Last year Washington defeated us 31 to 21. We have to begin early to win back those honors. As yet no dark horses have shown up, noteven a slightly dark one. After the wear and tear of several years’ service our diamond drags and batting cage have been relegated to the trash heap. In their places stand two first-class pieces of equipment that were built in our shops. Mr. Mason and his carpenters built the drags and Mr. Berry and his blacksmiths took no end of care in constructing a batting cage that is light and durable. Both are important pieces of baseball paraphernalia. Big and little alike are watching with a great deal of interest and anticipation the steady progress being made on our new gymnasium. Gradually it grows into a fine, complete struc ture. As the days go by more of the excellence of this anxiously- awaited building unfolds before the capable hands of the work men. Late last week we saw the completion of its fine-looking ceiling. With its sunken light effect it will be out of the ordinary. Tomorrow, after a long rest, our basketball team romps back into action. We are also hoping it will romp home with the bacon. Bacon now means district championsand an even start with the other district victors for the state championship. Of course that might be assuming quite a bit. But why not aim high while aiming? Even at that our quintet has played cham pionship basketball at times this season and it might not be expecting too much to hope that they do it now. Theirs has been an up-and-down season and they have reached the heights and the depths of both. But they have kept everlastingly at it and the team that does that and does not know how to quit or give up is bound to find its way to the top some time. It is hoped that Dominic Dog Eagle, who won himself a regular guard position early in the season by his all-around good work and who was ordered to the sidelines recently for a complete rest, will be back on the squad for these games. If added poundage counts for anything Dominic will soon be better than ever. In recent games Albert Miller and Isaac Shoulder Blade have been filling the guard positions and have functioned nicely. Miller has regained his lost “pep" and dash and is again dropping them in from the back court. He and Shoulder Blade team well together. Andrew Hatfield has gone back to his old post at center and Vincent Pratt and Captain Vivette are the forwards. When cool and relaxed these five make a formidable foe for the best of them. Robert Thomas seems to have found his lost stride and has been sinking them consistently lately and plays a good floor game. Since Dominic left the squad Peter Hall has joined the reserves. Peter is going to make a valuable relief man. He not only playscenter but is a good guard, handles the ball well and can shoot baskets. Philip Corbett, guard, rounds the list of those who will carry our colors to the district tournament. Lots of luck and best wishes to you boys in your game tomorrow. feel warranted in saying that they, too, are in accord with the view expressed by the editor of the Alaska Fisherman. They are among the last men in the world, we think, who would want to see the Alaskan Indians robbed of their pride, self-respect and splendid independence. Nor do we believe they have the re motest idea of attempting to extend the Indian Ser vice system we have here in the States to Alaska. The present administration of Indian Affairs, or indeed the present generation for that matter, is not responsible for our system of segregated Indian schools and reser vations. These mandibles of charity, and the mar supial paternalism that has reduced a once proud race to a state of shameless dependence are matters of grave concern to our Commissioners. They have simply in herited a situation which must seem to them at times to be almost hopeless, and they are trying their best to find a practical solution to the biggest human problem with which this nation, as a government, has to deal. If our reservation Indians possessed the spirit of co operation, and the industry, ambition, and desire for improvement attributed to the Natives of Alaska, they would soon solve their own problem. The Chemawa school has been educating Alaskans for the past fifty years and, notwithstanding the fact that during this time a goodly number have gone out from this institution and become successful leaders among their people, our eyes are not closed to the blighting effects of our almshouse system on many others. The people in Alaska have complained that instead of fitting these natives to return to their country better prepared to meet conditions they must face there, we have in many cases spoiled them with our paternalistic methods and, by surrounding them with an artificial environment unsuited to their nature, have made it difficult for them to get back into their own social and industrial structure after they have returned to their homes. The practice in the past (now discon tinued) of bringing large numbers of small children from Alaska to Chemawa, and keeping them here for years without any contact with their own country or people has, in many cases, been attended with very unfortunate results. We still have a few Alaskans at Chemawa, some of whom have been here for eight or ten years, and we do not know what to do with them. They have lost all track of their people and have for gotten what their country looks like, but they are still fond of the land that has given them naught but birth and they long to return to it. Their situation is a most pathetic one. We can, therefore, understand why the progressive Alaskan Indians look with suspicion on any movement on the part of the govern ment which may appear to them an attempt to extend the Indian Service to Alaska.—O. H. L.
