| Summary: | Reindeer Trade Given Eskimos: Alaska Business Turned Over To Natives By Government. Reindeer Trade Given Eskimo. Alaska Business Turned Over to Natives by Government. SEATTLE, Oct. 9 (AP)-Unlike the Oklahoma Indians who became wealthy through their oil land holdings, Eskimos won't become rich with the Alaska reindeer business turned over to them. Government leaders hope, however, that the Eskimos, who number native population, will become more independent and self-sustaining by putting them "into business." The bill which the president recently signed, authorizing a $2,000,000 appropriation to carry out the program of returning to the "Eskimos and natives of Alaska" the Lomen family, for years the biggest interests in the reindeer industry from the field. It means giving up the Lomens' dreams of many years," F. C. Austin, treasurer of the Lomen Comercial company, said here. "We've co-operated witht he govenrment in every way and now we're retiring from the business." Long urged by Eskimos and government leaders to aid Eskimos in their problem of maintaining food supplies and clothing, the measure was brought before congress by Anthony J. Dimond, Alaska delegate. The department of interiror also backed the bill and the senate committee on Indian affairs held hearings at Nome last year. Reindeer herds in the territory are now estimated to number about 600,000, an increase of nearly nine times in the past ten years, despite ravages by their natural enemies wolves. Charges Made. Off and on for many years charges have been made that the Eskimos were being mistreated and deprived of their hers. Some opposition to the present bill, mainly because it has been feared all the natives of Alaska would not benefit in the same proportion as the Eskimos, has been expressed. Others have questioned the ability of the Eskimos to manage the herds in a business-like manner, pointing to the Eskimos's reputed "feast-and-famine" tendencies. E. B. (DUFFY) O'Connor of Nome, member of the Nome reindeer board for Eskimo-owned deer, has been a staunch defender of the Eskimos. Eskimo "cowboys" have long done most of the owrk of handling the herds. Despite their wild life on the snow-covered tundra, much of the year and the fact that reindeer are actually domesticated caribou, the herds have increased in quality through cross-breeding with wild caribou, herders say. Repeated attempts to populized reindeer meat in the United Stated and develop an export business for Alaska have falled. Reindeer were first brought to Alasska about 1900 from Lapland, with Lapp herders accompanying them.
|
|---|