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Show ! Miscellany Uplifting the Eskimo. Some persons are doubtful of the wisdom wis-dom of trying to educate the Eskimos of the northwestern district of Alaska. Why not let them alone? Were they not happy and able to exist' before white teachers began to change their mode of life? These questions are often asked, says Walter C. Shields of the bureau of education, department of the interior, j who essays a defense of such, education. educa-tion. One often hears the opinion that it I would liave been better if no effort to educate the Indians had ever been made. Doing tilings according to the white man's ways has caused diseases among Indians with which they formerly may not have suffered. Though once they were independent and self-sustaining, many have become more or less dependent depend-ent upon the government. These considerations consid-erations naturally cause a doubt as to vthe good that can be accomplished by "uplifting" "up-lifting" the Eskimos. Recent years, however, have shown a great improvement in the industrial status of the Indian and a lowering of the death ra te. The present day policy toward, the Indian is different from t,hat of twenty or more years ago. The old system tended to make the Indian, a dependent. de-pendent. Mr. Shields says the Eskimo is not dependent and has "never received a ration from the government." It is the policy of the bureau of education not to lessen the Eskimo's independence, and so no heed is paid to the advice from well-meaning but shallow persons that the Eskimo should be fed better food, and at government expense. Mr. Shields is right in contending that Is is better.' for. the Eskijaio to eat strictly native food, even if-' it is below our standards, thfli for him to learn to expect the government gov-ernment to support him. The aim of the bureau of education, says Mr. Shields, is to make the Eskimo even better able to survive than he has been, and it must be admitted that the Eskimo has-demonstra ted ability to survive, sur-vive, in a most difficult environment. It will be a long time before the Eskimo will be pressed by white men seeking land, but if such a time comes it is the, purpose of the bureau of education to have the Eskimo prepared to meet advanced ad-vanced economic conditions. Tacoma Ledger. |