Weekly Chemawa American., April 10, 1903, Page 2, Image 2

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THE CHEMAWA AMERICAN
THc Chemawa American.
Pnblished Weekly by the Pupils of the
Chemawa Indian School.
Subscription Price, 25 Cents Per Year.
Clubs of Ave and over 20 Cents pr year.
Address all Business Communications tg
The Chemawa American,
Chemawa, Oregon.
Entered at the Postoffiee at, Chemawa, Or.,
as second-class mail -ma Iter.
Note. If this space is marked with a
red cross it means: ;that your sub
scription has expired. Pleaee renew.
The Alaska Indian Problem.
What to do wit h the Alaska Indians is a
problem that is being brought forcibly to
the attention of Government officials. For
Several years appeals have beeo made,
principally to Army officers, to send relief
to suffering Indians in one community or
another. It has been stated that since the
advent of the white man in Alaska be has
largely deprived the native of his means
of support, and that the enactment of more
stringent game nd fih laws" have done
much towards cutting off the food supplies
of the tribes scattered throughout the vast
territory. There seems to be no doubt that
there is a great deal of suffering among the
Alaskan Indians, but the Government is in
an awkward position, not knowing what
course to pursue. To establish the policy
of furnishing food outright to these Indians,
year after year, would mean a good-sized
appropriation. Aside from $10,000 appro
priated last session for the relief of the
Copper River Indians, there is no fund
available for the relief of the Alaskan In
dians. Yet demands for aid are coming in'
from all sections, and only such assistance
can be given as seems absolutely necessary.
The department rather looks to Congress to
provide the remedy, but Congress declines
ot act. So far as the Copper River Indians
are concerned, a proposition has been laid
before the Interior Department for creating
. a reservation for their uss and benefit, on
lines similar to the Indian reservations in
the states, but there would be considerable
opposition to the policy of creating Indian
reservations all over A'aska. Therefore
the investigation that hs been proposed,
with a view to learning the exact facts, in
order that, a comprehensive report may b
made to Congress next session, with a viw
to securing legislation outlining, in a general
way, . at least, the future policy of this
Government towards the Alaska Indians.
Oregonian
SvpU Zbos. 01; Potter;
The gentleman whse portrait we give
on this page is the superintendent of the
Chemawa Indian Training school, near
Salem, Oregon. This institution has be
come one of the great schools of the In
dian service largely through the efforts of
Supt. . Pottr, .who haa shown himself to
be an energetic, widea-wake, skillful super
intendent. The Oregon Statesman thus
speaks of him :
"Thos.tW. Potter, the Superintendent, is
one of the greatest workeis in the Indian
Service. He has beeu here about eight
years, and to his efforts is largely due to
the growth and improvements in a nun
died ways of the institution, Mr. Potter
has been long in the Indian service, aDd
the best. years of his life are being givei
to the upbuilding of Indian character and
the bettering of the condiiions for his
training into the ways ' of civilization."
Puget Sound Indian Guide.
Miss Irene Campbell, of Chemawa. Ore
gon, (once our " little Irene) has written
song called "Chemawa." It was given hy
her at their 23rd Anniversary exercise
recently. Red Man and Helper, Car!i,e.
Miss Davie who has been acting assist
ant clerk at Chemawa during Mr Cai-se
absence.returned to her home in Salem firt
of the week.