Weekly Chemawa American., April 17, 1908, Image 1

Ibeiiiniaipa
VOL. 10.
APRIL 17, 1908.
NO. 43
Sad Plight of Alaska Indians,
A special despatch from Washington
to the New York Globe, dated March 11,
said: . .
Once more the Senate has had its
attention called to the miserable con
dition of the Alaska Indians. The latest
advices are contained in a report from
the Grand Jury of the Federal Court in
the Third Judicial Division at Valdez,
which has been brought to the attention
of the United States Senate by Senator
Nelson. : ' l ; -"
According to the report, the native
Indians in many parts of the Third
Division are in a starving condition -:
brought about to a great degree by white
and civilized people. The fish on which
the natives subsist are becoming scarcer
every year because the cannery men are
placing traps and nets at the mouths of
the various rivers and streams, thus
preventing the fish from ascending them.
Even in trapping the Indians are no
match for the men. The latter are said
by the Grand Jury to be trapping all
over the region and are using improved
traps and methods, thus depriving -the
Indians of the fur? which would other
wise be a source of steady income for them
Worse still, white men are furnishing
intoxicating liquor to the Indians, and
debauching them and their families.
The Grand Jury recommends that a law
be passed making it a felony to sell,
give, or furnish intoxicating liquors to
any Indian in Alaska, and preventing
Indians from entering saloons or loiter
ing about them. The Copper River
Indians are also said by the Grand Jury
to be in a starving and destitute condition
and immediate action for their relief
is urged. Recommendations are also
made for the grouping of the Indians
in various localties or communities, and
placing them under the care and
control of competent persons who would
have the power to compel them to work
and provide for themselves the
necessaries of life.
"Wealth," remarked the man who
moralizes, "can be made a great in
fluence for good'
"Yes," answered; Mr. Dustin Stax,
"and yet when you start in ; with the
kind of a man who hag to be hirqd to
be good, it's mighty hard' to get your
money's worth." Washington Star.