Northwest History. Alaska. Food Supply.

• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1935
• Subjects: Eskimos; Barrow; Alaska; natives; food; fuel; interior points; shortage; Dr. Henry W. Greist; Presbyterian Mission Hospital; Thanksgiving; slaughter; snow; Northwest; Pacific > History > 20th century; Arctic; Pacific; Slaughter; eskimo*
• Online Access: http://content.libraries.wsu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/clipping/id/91637

Eskimos Desert Barrow: Natives, With Little Food Or Fuel, Go Inland. Eskimos Desert Barrow Natives, With Litttle Food or Fuel, Go Inland BARROW, Alaska, Nov. 29 — (AP)—Barrow was almost a "deserted town" today as the last of several hundred Eskimos left for interior points for the winer, their exodus brought, about by shortages of food and fuel. The temperature has remained around 30 below the past several days, as the Eskimo men bundled their families and few belongings upon their dog sleds. It was 36 below last night. "Our village is almost depopulated now for the winter," said Dr. Henry W. Greist, head of the Presbyterian Mission Hospital. A cheerless Thanksgiving and a hard winter faced the Eskimo population, who have learned something of the white man's holiday observances. Whales have been one being killed this summer, and trapping was poor last winter. At a council of Eskimo leaders, :he older heads decided to move to the interior. Coal deposits there will furnish fuel to take the place jf the whale blubber and trapping ind hunting will be better, they counselled. With native caution, however, ;hey refused to slaughter more than 300 of their reindeer for food. lespite urging of the whites. "In the interior, some miles from the coast," Dr. Greist said "the men will'build snow houses or rude brush shelters surrounded with frozen sod or blocks of snow. They will not return until after the long Arctic winter night is ended."