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Transcription
Jonich
1953
6
Eskimo Notes
Point Barrow, Alaska
May 22 The eskimo seasonally has access to
the caribou and makes much use of the
hide and meat. Many of the natives are
aware of the approach of civilization
and favor this much. What the
future of the about 1500 Barrow
people is, seems to be along the lines
of learning the stateside and interior
peoples ways. Many, I don't know
how many, have gone south to do
construction work in Fairbanks. They
are good craftsmen and do well at
carpentering. How many will be able
to leave their dependence on the sea
and subsist as tradesman is a question.
Whether their society will be able to
stand under those conditions or whether
it will crumble to assimilation I do
not know. Undoubtedly the old culture
is gone now forever. The "wild" eskimo
of a couple of hundred years ago did
not have many permanently established
settlements, but was a nomadic hunter.
Even now in summer they spread
out along the coast to hunt ducks
and the village population is thus
reduced. Several first contact