Man Never Too Old To Learn
By S* G. Davis
We have been told one time
Russia owned Alaska, just how
true this statement is no Haida
has ever known, although I
have heard the Haidas sav
something about the Russian
American Trading C.o having a
post at Sitka, the same as the
Hudson Bay had their Fort at
Port Simpson, British Columbia,
but I don’t believe or no one can
make me believe that the Hud
son Bay Company owned Brit
ish Columbia, because of having
a Fort at Port Simpson, B. C.
Neither do I believe the Russian
American Fur Co., owned Alaska,
because they had a fort at Sitka.
One thing I could not under
stand, is this: Why was it if
Russia owned Alaska she made
na laws to rule Alaska by? The
only laws that I ever knew was
the Thlinget and the Haida laws
I have been told that Russia
did have laws, but those laws
were only for inside of her foris
and every Thlinget and Haida
who entered that fort must
obey those laws, but the mom
ent he passed the gates on his
v,ay out his fear of obeying
Russian laws ceased.
Some one may ask: What were
the Thlinget and Haida laws?
EYE for an EYE. The law of
equality. No one man or famiiy
could ever do a thing when the
salmon came to the streams,
Each family dried as much as
would do that family for tine
winter. Otherwise when the
salmon are ready to spawn the
wooden traps were taken out of
the streams and the spawning
salmon were let go up the
streams, to the lakes.
There were seasons for ani
mals, there was a season for
deer, season for mink, otter,
bear, there were seasons to trap
furs, hunting season for fur
seals, sea otter. We were free to
oo as we liked, but we never
spoiled this freedom.
But now a great shadow hangs
over the Thlingets and Haidas
in this great land of Alaska, its
the shadow of the white man’s
greed. The Thlingets and Haidas
never suffered for want of food
until the white man came and
Greed and degeneration set inr
dance houses set up; women and
rum and dancing, sickness, dy
ing. Did Russia do these things?
Why in the world didn’t they do
all these things the white man
did unto our people. You told
the Thlingets and Haidas the
Russians owned Alaska. If thev
cid, Russia was very good about
it. The Russians never came and
took our streams and trapping
grounds from us; they never told
as how we might catch salmon:
end when we might stop; and if
v.e wanted a stick of timber
Russia never gave us permit. No
we never saw a Russian on
Prince of Wales Island. Yes
come to think about it I saw
one Russian at Karta Bay and
he lived wi‘li Chief Scowel’s
slaves at Kasaan, Klakas and
Takoo now (Hunters Bay) where
the two streams from which the
Yoako-lannas at Klinquan,
village on Prince of Wales Is
land harvested their salmon
every summer. These streams
were as good as a farm to the
natives. To these streams men,
women and children went every
fishing season. They were happy
days. Those were days when we
were free; there were no Judges
to take our canoes from us;
there was no “thou shalt not,**
in Alaska those days. One day I
asked my old grandfather how
long since the Koak-lannas had
been getting fish from these
streams. The old man looked at
ALASKA NATIVE
SISTERHOOD
President Mrs. L. Roundtree
Meets Every Monday
Petersburg - - Alaska
A. JENNINGS I
General Boat Work
Repairing and Overhauling
Marine Paints for Sale
Sitka - Alaska *;•
THWARTS PHOTO SHOP
y KODAK FINISHING
COPYING—ENLARGING
v>
>> Ketchikan
SITKA CAMP
Alaska Native Brotherhood
Meets 8 P. M. Monday
Ed Marshall D. Marshall
President Secretary
DR. L. P. DAWES
Physician and Surgeon
First National Bank
Building
Phone 2602 Juneau
KETCHIKAN FOUNDRY
H. P. HANSEN, Prop.
Manufacturer of
STAR TROLLING GURDIES
Phone Black 121 Box 343
me and said: Ask those Rocks
they know because they are the
only rocks that where here be
fore the Ha id as.
--x
“Champagne is no good for
seasickness,” says a writer. But
port is better.
* • * *
The making of friends who are
real friends is the best token we
have of a man’s success in life.—
Edward Everett Hale.