Seeks }o Justify Reservation
Mr. Louis P. Paul,
Editor, The Alaska Fisherman,
Petersburg, Alaska.
Deai Mr. Paul:
I notice an editorial by you
on the subject of Indian Reser
vations in Alaska. This appear
ed in the Chemawa American
and again in the Native Ameri
can,
So you may be fully advised
on the purposes and reasons for
Itihe temporary withdrawal of
the Tetlin area, I am enclosing
a clipping from the Fairbanks
News-Miner of March 11th,
1931, signed by Rev. E. A. Mc
Intosh, and also copy of a
letter which I recently wrote to
Irving McK. Reed on the sub
ject
I hope on further study you
will be numbered among the
friends of the project. I ap
nreciate your April issue just
received.
Very truly yours,
E W. SAWYER.
? -x
CORRESPONDENCE
Editor News-Miner:
In your issue of March 5th
you reprint an article from the
Cordova Daily Times which is
based on a letter written by
myself to the Rev. M. J. Kip
penbrock of Cordova, in answer
to a telegram from him for in
formation about the Tetlin
reservation and it’s possible ef
fects upon our mission, St. Tim
othy’s at Tanana Crossing.
In the main this article is cor
rect. Had I known, however,
the letter was tor publication,
I would have been more explicit
in some details and less so in
others, and I now beg that
privilege.
It seems to me the deductions
contained by the captions of
»/e editors is not warranted by
the text of my letter, but every
one is entitled to his own
opinions and a free expression
of the same, and “I ain’t mad
at nobody.”
My understanding of this
reservation idea at Tetlin was
just to protect the native people
in their ancient hunting, trap
ping and fishing rights in the
dist ict, and secure the same to
them, undisturbed by the en
croachments of outsiders, and
so make it possible for them to
maintain themselves and their
lamilies in the only occupa
tion with which they are fam
iliar, in the country to which
thev are accustomed, and in the
only locality in which they
would be contented and happy,
and not to confine them to this
district as in the reservations
lormed in the early day of the
states.
It appealed to me as a move
to give to the native people
some protection in their rights
as the first settlers of the coun™
tiy just as is accorded any
other individual.
I am quoted, and correctly
>o. as saying; “Mr. Hajdukovich
is trying to depopulate the
Crossing.” Nov/ this was not
intended to be any reflection
upon Mr. Hajdukovich or his
backer, Mr. Malenkrodt, and I
said it would be a fine thing
if it could be done, but in my
opinion it was a physical and
economic impossibility, as I
know the people of these vil
lages. and the conditions, and I
feel justified in making the
statement.
It is practically impossible for
the native people in this coun
try to settle in any large sized
community as their moral s
physical and economic welfare
is best served by their being
more widely distributed so as
to cover a larger area with
their hunting, fishing and trap
ping, and so not deplete the
game in any one locality as it
has been done to some extent
; U. [ ^ l
at Tanana Crossing.
Since writing the Rev. Mr.
Kippenbrock, I discussed this
matter with Mr. Irving McK.
Reed of the game commission
who understands the native
situation and is interested in
their welfare, and he informs
me that the commission .has
a plan to register all trap lines.
If this can be done, allowing
the native Alaskans first choice,
and prohibiting the transfer of
their trap lines to anyone other
Mian another native, it will pre
serve their natural occupation
to the native people, and it
appears to me to be better than
establishing reservations for the
same purpose, for there wtfl be
ether localities deserving; the
same privilege as has been
granted at Tetlin, and a prece
dent for them is now establish
Certainly every one wants to
?ive the native people of Alaska
every opportunity to make a
''omfortable living for them
selves and their families arid it
is to the interest of all that
this be done, as they spend
what they get right here in the
country. Most of the white
trappers can go anywhere and
make a home and a living, but
the native people knew no oth
er home or occupation. The
native and white interests in the
country can best be served by
sympathetic cooperation and a
friendly regard for each others
rights.
REV. E. A. MTNTOSH.
X
Washington, April 7, 1931
Mr. Irving McKay Reed,
Alaska Game Comissioner,
Fairbanks, Alaska.