report on a trip to alaska, april 1966, by elfriede fischer hoeber

7/27/2019 Report on a Trip to Alaska, April 1966, by Elfriede Fischer Hoeber

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REPORT OTI A T R I P TO AL.4SKA, APRIL I 9 6 6

by

E l f r i e d e F. Hoeber ^

The immediate occasion of the t r i p was the d e d i c a t i o n of the

v i l l a g e of G r a y l i n g which was b u i l t with the aid of a F e d e r a l low-

income housing demonstration grant under S e c t i o n 207 of the Housing

Act of 1961. The a d d i t i o n a l purpose of the t r i p was the i n s p e c t i o n

of the houses at G r a y l i n g , an experimental house in Bethel for use by

Eskimos l i v i n g in the t r e e l e s s t ; i n d r a , and the i n s p e c t i o n of the

mutual-help housing in M e t l a k a t l a in the southeastern p a r t of A l a s k a .

One might ask i f a v i l l a g e of 23 houses, one experimental house,

and a group of mutual-help houses are worth the time, and e f f o r t , and

c o s t i n v o l v e d in sending a F e d e r a l o f f i c i a l over the n e a r l y 5,000

m i l e s d i s t a n c e . I t turned out to be worthwhile indeed, in terms of

having a b a s i s for e v a l u a t i n g r e p o r t s submitted by the sponsor, the

Alaska S t a t e Housing Authority, developing c o n c l u s i o n s regarding means

of providin g housing in the north country, in terms of the s a t i s f a c t i o n

to the I n d i a n s and other Alaskans in s e e i n g somebody from Washington

t a k i n g the t r o u b l e to v i s i t them, and, l a s t , in terms of the education

r e c e i v e d by the v i s i t o r .

Alaska i s d i f f e r e n t indeed. I t s problems of poverty are d i f f e r e n t

from, say, the r u r a l South. The s c a l e of the coun try, the c l i m a t e ,

the expense of g e t t i n g around and of shipping goods add a d d i t i o n a l

dimensions to the problems c r e a t e d by outdated technology and a

i .tenuous economic base.



One example may i l l u s t r a t e j u s t ono c o s t a s p e c t . In advance of

t h e o f f i c i a l d e d i c a t i o n pa r t y of about 25 persons f l y i n g to G r a y l i n g ,

t h e A l a s k a S t a t e Housing A u t h o r i t y had a i r f r e i g h t e d g r o c e r i e s i n t o ^

G r a y l i n g . The s h i p p i n g c o s t s almost e q u a l l e d the b a s i c c o s t . Each

p a r t i c i p a n t was asked to pay $24 to-v.-ard the g r o c e r i e s , about themost

expensive though not the b e s t meal t h i s r e p o r t e r e v er a t e . And the

mainstay of themeal, moose meat l o a f , was c o n t r i b u t e d by the n a t i v e s

themselves.

The term " n a t i v e " and "bush" do not c a r r y any derogatory c o r i n o -

t a t i o n s . The n a t i v e uses the term f r e e l y as a p p l y i n g to h i m s e l f and

t h o a i r l i n e scheduJ-o l i s t s "bush" r o u t e s . The term " n a t i v e " a p p l i e s

t o I n d i a n s , E s k i w cs and A l e u t s , but not to persons born inA l a s k a of

European or s t a t e s i d e o r i g i n . There do not seem to be many of the

l a t t e r . Nearly everybody i s from so.Tiouhero.

On tho d i r o c t f l i g h t from Chicago to Anchcrago the f r o z e n white

l a n d begins at t h i s ti;.:e of the y e a r an hou:f out of Chicago. S e t t l e

ments arcfevror and fewer. The o c c a s i o n a l roads seem to co:.:e from

noxchere and to go nov.'here. A l l i s bl a c k and white. V.Ti it e r i v e r o and

l a k e s and open a r e a s , and b l a c k t r e e s . Hearing Anchorage ( a f t e r many

hours of c o n f i n c r . c n t to a s e a t too narrov; f o r comfort and i r i t h leg

space too s h o r t to pw-rnit change of p o s i t i o n ) d r s m a t i c n o u n t a i r s

appear. Fxin--'^ \.'.'lli£::3 Soui-id i s c r o s s e d and Anchorage i s r s . -c he d at

2 p.m. A l a s k a t i r . o , 7 p.m. VJashington time. I t ' s a busy a i r p o r t indeed

s e r v e d by K I K , A i r F r a n c e , Japan A i r l i n e s , Morthv:ost O r i e n t , and innume



them. T he r e a s o n f o r t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l l i n o s t o b e t h e r e i s t h a t i t i s

about 2,000 m i l e s s h o r t e r from Washington t o Tokyo v i a Anchorage than

v i a S a n F r a n c i s c o a nd I I a v : a i i . KLM o f f e r s A l a s k a n s a two-week t r i p t o

Europe from Anchorage f o r $572. I was t o l d t h a t i t c o s t s $50 e x t r a

to go from Anchorage to New York v i a London than v i a t h e d i r e c t r o u t e .

Anchorage, a s f a r n o r t h a s H e l s i n k i a nd n e a r l y a s f a r west a s

Hawaii, resembles medium-sized western c i t i e s . T he s i g n s o f t h e e a r t h

quake a r e r a p i d l y d i s a p p e a r i n g . A s t r e t c h dovmtown has been c l e a r e d

and a w a i t s r e b u i l d i n g v i a urban r e n e w a l . Another s t r e t c h along the

shoro where t h e l a n d caved i nt o the bay and v ih ic h i s a tumble o f t r e e s ,

r o c k s , and d i r t T - i i l l be p r e s e r v e d i n t h i s c o n d i t i o n . N e w s k y s c r a p e r s

are shoo tin g up . New shopping c e n t e r s a r e being b u i l t and houses t c o .

I t i s a l l a p l e as a nt enough p l a c e w i t h t h e mountains i n t h e c a s t a nd

the bay i n the west, b u t a b i t u j i f i n i s h e d . .

One t hi ng th at s t r i k e s t ho v i s i t o r i s t he i n c e s s a n t , never-

ending concern o f A l a s k a n s about l o c a l and s t a t e p o l i t i c s . You s i t

down a t a t a b l e w i t h a s t r a j i g e r a^id vrliere i n oth er p ar ts the- t a l k vrould

be about vreather here t h e t a l k i s about p o l i t i c s . And th e v/eather i s

remarkable enough t o t a l k about. Perhaps i t i s remarkable o n l y t o t h e

v i s i t o r from " o u t s i d e . " B ut t h e p o l i t i c s i s a l l l o c a l . I n the innuiner

a b l e c o n v e r s a t i o n s d u r i n g m y week u p t h e r e Vietn?-m d i d n o t come up once

The papers w i . l l devote much more space t o t h e q u e s t i o n s o f whether

Anchorage s h o u l d have a z o o , o r t o t h o d e d i c a t i o n o f 23 houses i n

G r a y l i n g than to the r a i l r o a d s t r i k e or tho l o s t H-bomb.



4

T r i p t o Gr ay li np ; • "

The t r i p t o G r a y l i n g w a s arranged by ' t h e A l a s k a S t a t e Housing ^

A u t h o r i t y a n d conducted b y M r. C h a r l e s B l o m f i e l d , t h e A u t h o r i t y ' s

a s s i s t a n t d i r e c t o r i n charge o f a l l housing programs i n t h e S t a t e ,

a nd my c h e e r f u l e s c o r t throughout tho t r i p .

Departure o f t h e c h a r t e r plane to Grayling v:as at seven i n t h o

morning on a c l o u d l e s s sunny Saturday ( A p r i l 2, I 9 6 6 ) . T h e p a r t y o f

23 persons c o n s i s t e d o f r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f A S M ( A l a s k a S t a t e Housing

A u t h o r i t y ) , B I A, P u b l i c H e a l th S e r v i c e , S a l v a t i o n Army ( r e a s o n f o r h i s

presence remains unknov:n), t ho Governor's o f f i c e , Senator B a r l o t t ' s

o f f i c e , V i s t a , t he p r e s s , some o t h e r s , a n d your r e p o r t e r , a l l more

o r l e s s violl equipped f o r a t r i p to tho v : i l d s .

Northern C o n s o l i d a t e d flevr t h e p a r t y t o Aniak, a c r o s s r o a d s o f

.about 100 people with an FAA i n s t a l l a t i o n . I n Ajiiak tho v i s i t o r s wore

d i v i d e d i n t o t h r o e groups t o f l y t h e remaining d i s t a n c e i n s e v e n - s e a t e r

n o i s y P o r t e r p l a n e s . Ono v i l l a g e . Holy C r o s s , v ; a s n o t i c e d along t ho

v r a y ; e v e r y t h i n g e l s e V7as f r o z e n , empty l a n d w i t h streaiTis a n d l a k o s ,

s p r u c e a nd w i l l o w s a n d t h e b i g f r o z e n Yukon. M a j e s t i c i s t h o v ro rd .

T h e p l a n e s landed on the Yukon vrhero the v i l l a g e r s were >,-aiting

vrith s l e d s . T h e s l e d s were a t t a c h e d t o Snow T r a v e l e r s , t h e r .o dc rn

s u c c e s s o r s t o t h o d o g ter-ms. The Snov; T r a v e l e r i s a k i n d o f s c o o t e r

running on rubber t r e a d s . I t c o s t s about $500 and the number i n t ] \ - ?

v i l l a g e o f G r a y l i n g i s i n c r e a s i n g . A snow t r a v e l e r needs t o b o f u e l e d

onl y wlien i n us e. Dogs need food whether they a r e working or no t. Dog

teens ar= p i c t u r e , qv::: t u t r l r o r;c:;ry. '



I vras depositod at the door of Plarry Gochenauer, the president of

tho v i l l a g e c o u n c i l . A shy p r e t t y voman vdth f i n e f e a t u r e s and her

f i v e c h i l d r e n velconed me for a limch of soup and cheese s a n d v r i c h e s l

The soup and sand^d.ches probably came from tho s p e c i a l grocery supply.

Normally they vjould be homemade, and not with f a c t o r y bread. But the

" v i l l a g e r s were not persuaded t h a t t h e i r v i s i t o r s would have p r e f e r r e d

the homemade v a r i e t y .

G r a y l i n g i s one r e s u l t of the Lov;-Income Housing Demonstration

grant to the Alaska S t a t e Housing Aut hority. The houses v;ere b u i l t

by the occupants themselves. Tho grant provided for pi ircliaso of

m a t e r i a l s , for equipment and t o o l s , for planning and s u p e r v i s i o n .

With a l l tho help provided through the grant and the cooperation of a

number of agencies, i n c l u d i n g BIA and PES, G r a y l i n g i s predominantly

the r e s u l t of tho v i l l a g e r ' s own e f f o r t s . They f e l l e d the t r e e s up

r i v e r , r a f t e d them to the t o . T i s i t e and savjed them i n t o b u i l d i n g lum

ber, and then b u i l t the houses.

The c o s t of m a t e r i a l s and equipment provided by the grant amounts

to about $2500 per house. I t incD.uded k i t c h a n equipment, doors, v.-indovjs

linoleum., p a i n t , hardware, e t c .

The econor-y of the remote v i l l a g e i s tenuous at b e s t . Scr.e summer

enploraent i s a v a i l a b l e i n c a n n e r i e s , c c c a s i o n s l l y l a s t i n g long enough

to q u a l i f y tho workers for v>iiemploy;\ont compensation; animals are

trapped for t h o i r f u r s ; f i s h are caught for home consumption and m.oose

i s shot f o r meat. I t i s a bare s u b s i s t e n c e economy.



The tenuous economy i s one r eason vhy i t took three years to com-

p l e t e the houses. V i T i il e t r e e s could be f e l l e d during the van ter , '

b u i l d i n g had to wai t fo r tho sh ort peri od of v;armer veather, p r e c i s e l y

the time v;hen employment opportunities are a v a i l a b l e . The native

cannot forego these oppor tun iti es and the houses have to v a i t . For

these reasons the Alaska Housing Autho rity i s convinced tha t s e l f - h e l p

and mutual help cons tru cti on i s not the method of choice in remote areas.

ASHA bel iev es tha t the future occupants should bo paid, and that con

s t r u c t i o n e f f i c i e n c y vjould be higher i f the workers were paid. There

remains tho question how houses can be financed for f a n i i l i e s of very

low and xmcertain income,

Tho brand-nev.' v i l l a g e of 23 f a m i l i e s and about 125 people i s

l o c a t e d on the r i g l i t bank of the Yukon, The s i t e V7as s e l e c t e d by the

v i l l a g e r s when i n 19^3 they decided to move ai;ay from Holikachuk w h i c l i

was flooded every year. V'ith the exceptio n of one or two houses t r a j i s -

ported from Holikachul':, the houses were b u i l t with the a ssi sta nco of t l i o

lK)V7-Income Housing Demonstration Prograjn. The Bureau of Land Management

made the land a v a i l a b l e aj id l a i d out the t o - , ; ns it e . Transfer of t i t l e

to the land to the occupaJits i s pending.

The nev7 houses are i r r e g u l a r l y set among the birches v ; i t h enough

of the t r e e s cl ea re d to give the sun acce ss to the houses. In addition

to the houses there arc a f a i r number of other buildings, outhouses,

storage sheds ( c a l l e d caches) and Harry's v ro rk sl i o p . Harry has the

l a r g e s t house and i s qu it e a cra ftsm an, ovming a remarkable set of Sears



Roebuck power t o o l s s e t i n r . o t i on by e l e c t r i c i t y from h i s g e n e r a t o r ,

v h i c h a l s o p r o v i d e s l i g h t f o r h i s house. Most houses hovrover get l i g h t

from Coleman lamps. ^

At t h i s time o f t h e y e a r t h e r o a d s , s a i d to be 30 t o 60 f e e t vn.de,

a r e i n v i s i b l e . E v e r y t h i n g i s under snow. Narrow paths connect t h e

houses. I t i s b e t t e r p a r t o f VJisdom n o t t o s t r a y from t h e paths o r

one f i n d s o n e s e l f knee-deep i n snow out of which i t i s d i f f i c u l t t o

e x t r i c a t e o n e s e l f . T h o houses a r e w e l l s i t e d w i t h d i f f e r e n t s e tb a c k s

and d i f f e r e n t a n g l e s t o th e road. Each f a m i l y decided v;here i t vranted

i t shouse. _ .

Though t h e r e vras o ne b a s i c p l a n f o r t h o houses ( e x c e p t f o r a n

a b b r e v i a t e d v e r s i o n v :h ic h v;as t o s e r v e s i n g l e persons) i n d i v i d u a l vdshes

p r e v a i l e d ajid v a r i a t i o n r e s u l t e d . The b a s i c p l a n f o r t h e 63O s q . f oo t

house i s i n g e n i o u s a nd f u n c t i o n r l : a c e n t r a l k i t c h e n - l i v i n g oom t h r e e

s m a l l bodrocms, space f o r a bathroom, a nd a n e n c l o s e d e n t r y porch

t o p r e s e r v e h e a t . S i n c e t h e I n d i a n i n t h e remote v i l l a g e s , g e n e r a l l y ,

does not oirn much f u r n i t t i r e , o r a n y t h i n g e l s e f o r t h a t matter, space

i s r e a s o n a b l y adequate. Tne f l o o r s e.re l i n o l e u j n (or so.T.ething that

l o o k s l i k e i t ) a nd t h e w a l l s a r e g a y l y p a i n t e d \ ; s . l l board.

Tho k i t c h e n - l i v i n g rooms have mostly an o i l - f e d cookwStove, a few

have g as s t o v e s u s i n g b o t t l e d g a s , a nd a s i n k - c a b i n e t u n i t . U s u a l l y

t h e r e i s a s o f a , a t a b l e , a nd a n-ambor o f c h a i r s .

Keat i s p r c v i c e d by a "Yukon Stove," an j.ngenxous and e f f i c i e n t

c o n t . r a p t i o n . T h e b?-sic i n g r e d i e n t i s a n o i l drum f i s h e d o u t o f t h e



r i v e r . I t i s set h o r i z o n t a l l y on a metal stand. A f i r e door and dam-

per i s i n s e r t e d i n one of the f l a t s i d e s of the drum. A c o l l a r l i n e s '

a hole i n the top in which a stove pipe i s i n s e r t e d . Tho f i r e door and

c o l l a r are made and obtained comjTiercially for about $20. In most houses

t h i s heater i s i n the l i v i n g room keeping the adjacent bedrooms, which

have no doors, warm* as w e l l . Some f a m i l i e s have excavated a basement

or p a r t basement and keep the heater t h e r e v j i t h ducts t r a n s m i t t i n g heat

to the rocm.s. B i r c h wood s e r v e s as f u e l .

No house as ye t has running water. Harry keeps a l a r g o covered

garbage can as his water r e s e r v o i r in tho k i t c h e n . I t i s f i l l e d from

G r a y l i n g Creek in the back of his house. BIA i s e x p l o r i n g the p o s s i b i l i t

of digging a c c T J a u n i t y w e l l , running the v i a t o r through a heater and

c i r c u l a t i n g i t to the houses. T h i s i s permafrost country and customary

methods of p i p i n g water cannot be used. BIA v j o u l d run the pipes to the

houses and the r e s i d e n t s v j o u l d tako i t from t h e r e . . The bathroom nov; has

i t s name from i t s f u t u r e r a t h e r than from i t s present use. T o i l e t f a c i l it i e s of the more p r i m i i t i v e kind are l o c a t e d in outhouses. In the absence

of piped-in water the v i l l a g e r s seem to p r e f e r t h i s arrangement to the

chemical t o i l e t . •

I t i s not u n l i k e l y t h a t mcdern f a c i l i t i e s w i l l r e p l a c e the p r i m i t i v e

ones once running v j a t e r i s a v a i l a b l e . E l e c t r i c i t y i s now a v a i l a b l e to

tho fcv; who have a generator or a c c e s s to a neighbor's c u r r e n t .

There i s s t i l l some f i n i s h i n g to do. Front s t e p s are on occasion

r a i s s i n g and some rooms may have only one coat of p a i n t or none at a l l .



I n t h e hour-OS t h e r e i s a n e v i d e n t e f f o r t t o improvQ a n d b e a u t i f y .

None have vhole now s o t s o f f u r n i t u r e , b u t a n o c c a s i o n a J . new s o f a o r

b r e a k f a s t s o t c a n been se e n. Plj-srood has b u i l t r.any t a b l e s . Genera

t h e k i t c h e n c a b i n e t s a r e t h o most e l eg a n t p i e c e s o f f u r n i t u r e .

T h e K a j o r unsolved problem i s condensation. Because t h e houses a r e

t i g h t l y b u i l t , moisture generated by people a n d c o c k i n g cannot escape

and condenses o n t h o c o l d o u t s i d e w a l l , r u i n i n g p a i n t an d plyv;ood. Some

people have mads s m a l l h o l e s through t h e ; ; a l l s f o r t h e vapors t o escape.

Heat escapes t h i s w a y , o f c o u i ' s e , t o o .

D e d i c a t i o n '

The evening d e d i c a t i o n f e s t i v i t i e s i n G r a y l i n g took p l a c e i n t h e

schoolhouss b u i l t i n 1 9 64 b y t h o B I A . I t i n c l u d e s t wo classrooms a s

v ? e l l as tho l i v i n g q u a r t e r s o f t h e t e a c h e r couple. They s l o ^ i i fro:ri North

C a r o l i n a , have s e r v e d p r e v i o u s l y i n Er.kimo cominunities i n tho Tundra.

They a r e f i d l o f enthusiasm, b e l i e v e t h a t th e q u a l i t y o f t he houses i s

r e f l e c t e d i n t h e h e a l t h and l e a r n i n g c a p a c i t y o f th o c h i l d r e n i n con

t r a s t t o t h e Tundra c h i l d i - e n l i v i n g i n h o v e l s . T he t e a c h e r s have tho

o n l y modern bathroom i n t h e co^j-iunity, the u::e of vjhich they h o s p j . t a b l y

o f f e r e d t o t h e . l a d i e s o f t h e p a r t y .

Tho school has now about 40 c h i l d i x - n from f i r s t through e i g h t h

grade. C h i l d r e n vrho i-.-ant t o go on a r e s e n t t o BI A boarding s c h o o l i n

Oregon. T he s c h o o l r e p r e s e n t s a n investment o f about $250 ,000 a:id i s

more than a s c h o o l . Tho p a r t i t i o n s between t h e classrooms a r e movable

t o c r e a t e a l a r g e room f o r meetings. The s ch o o l v:as l a r g e l y b u i l t by



10

l o c a l l a b o r and c o n t r i b u t o d to thed e l a y inb u i l d i n g the houses. The

I n d i a n s c o u l d not and v;ould not forego thop a i d l a b o r , ^

F o r tho o c c a s i o n of the d e d i c a t i o n t a b l e s had been b u i l t v ? i t h

plyv;ood sot on h o r s e s , a l l c o l o r f u l l y decorated \ ; i t h crepe paper,

spruce c e n t e r p i e c e s and c a n d l e s . A f t e r theproper i n v o c a t i o n s and

i n t r o d u c t i o n s we p i c k e d up our r.eal c o n s i s t i n g of mooso neat l o a f (not

a gourmet t r e a t ) , c o l e s l a w , baked patato and - b e s t of a l l - homemade

r o l l s , J e l l o f o r d e s s e r t . The moose was contributed,by the v i l l a g e r s ,

who had made a l l the p r e p a r a t i o n s . T h i s i s not a group used to g e t t i n g

up church suppors, but they had done ever;>-thing n i c e l y and o b v i o u s l y

worked v e r y hard f o r t h e i r "honored g u e s t s . " T h i s w i l l be an important

o c c a s i o n , long to bo remembered and s e t t i n g an example of what the group

c a n do, -

F o r the a f t e r - d i n n e r p r o g r a r , i I fou_nd myself b i l l e d as the keynote

speaker. S i n c e about 10 other spor.!:er3 preceded me I made the kej-note

speech s h o r t and cut the r i b b o r i - s y m b o l i c a l l y s t r e t c h e d between tvro

s c a l e models - vdth duo ceremony and f l a s h J - i g h t s f 3 a s h i n g .

Native dances were performed by a gro\ip of I n d i a j i S and entertainment

f o l l o w e d . T h i s v:as by an imported s i n g e r acccmpanied cn tho t e a c h e r ' s

organ. Tho low-cut, long red d r e s s , r h i n s s t o n o s h o u l d e r s t r a p s , and an

immense h a i r d o made up in l o o k s \ r h a t t h e r e vra s not in v o i c e . The e n t i r e

v i l l a g e , babes-in-ai-ms, c h i l d i - e n , p a r e n t s , grandparents, had turned out

f o r tho o c c a s i o n c I t w e l l v ? a r ra n tc d the front-page coverage ajnd fu3-l~

page p i c t u r e spro-.d which v-as gi v en to , th e f e s t i v i t i e s by theAt^chorago



11R e t u r n i n g to thehouse of my h o s t s f o r the n i g h t I found a bed made

up in the c o l o r s of Alaska; nev; y e l l o v ; s h e e t s and a new b l u e b l a n k e t .

T h e s l e e p i n g bag went back to V/ashington unused, ^

Sujiday morning was s p e n t w i t h more v i s i t i n g at v a r i o u s houses, and

t a l k i n g to tho v i l l a g e r s v;ho by t h i s time were l o s i n g t h e i r sh j>Ti9ss.

Church b e l l s r a n g . The v i l l a g e has two m i n i s t e r s , ep i s c o pa l and a r c t n c

m i s s i o n , which seems a l o t of c l e r g y f o r l e s s t h a n 30 f a j n i l i e s , Thore

i s no c h u r ch y e t , o n l y a room in thom i s s i o n which a l s o s e r v e s as the

p u b l i c l i b r a i ' y . The l i b r a r y has a b a s i c s t o c k of 100books, Tvronty

new ones a r c s e n t in from time to time and tv/enty others are r e t u r n e d .

Some magazines and them i s s i o n ' s own s t o c k of books com.plete tho i n v e n

t o r y .

A l i g h t r a i n had s t a r t e d tho e v e n i n g b e f o r e t h r e a t e n i n g s o f t e n e d

snow inv/hich no p l a n e c o u l d l.ar^d or t a ke o f f . I t stopped soon enough

and v.'e cou3.d d e p a r t as planned.

I t V7as a memorable o c c a s i o n i n d e e d . Three y e a r s ago there vras no

G r a y l i n g . Today i t i s a p r L m i t i v e but promising cortmiunity.

^Q.'^jlgj-.y—•^-^/\P -9Al'-'v" . '' Eskimo Co\i-"it.ry

VJo flevr - s t i l l on t l i e charter arra j i g e ment - under a b l u e sky to

Aniak, Here most of thep a r t y c o n t i n u e d on the c h a r t e r to Anchorage

w h i l e I - i ' . B l o m f i e l d and I planned to go cn to B e t h e l . I t seemed B e t h e l

was close d by snow. The snov; d i s s i p a t e d and the smiall s e v e n - s e a t e r took

o f f , to run i n t o ;>now and "whiteout," V.'hiteout i s a s t a t e of a f f a i r s

where h o r i z o n and sky r i e l t i n t o one i m p e n e t r a b l e mass of v r h i t e . T h i s



i s vhat ono i s not supposed t o h i t because o r i e n t a t i o n i s wholly

i m p o s s i b l e . B ut b y t h i s time we were near B e t h e l a n d guided b y r a d i o

we soon saw the m.ost welcome b r i g h t l i g h t s of tho a i r s t r i p . I t snowed

and wa s j u s t nasty and v j i n d y. Somebody drove u s i n t o town v r i t h a NCA

s t a t i o n wagon and deposited us i n f r o n t o f t h e "Tundra ShacV:," a h o t e l

l i v i n g ^ p to i t s name.

T h o h o t e l produced two rooms. The ono s e l e c t e d f o r me h ad nomeans o f l o c k i n g t h e door which v/ould n o t c l o s e i n a ny c a s e . A s w i t c h

o f roomys r e s u l t e d i n l o c k a b l e accommodations, a b ed v /i th c l e a n l i n e n ,

an upturned c r a t e f o r a night desk, and e l e c t r i c i n s t a l l a t i o n v/hich

would pass nobody's i n s p e c t i o n . I s l e p t w e l l , took a bath i n four

in ch es of vrator i n a tub which together vrith a chemical t o i l e t con

s t i t u t e d t he s a n i t a r y f a c i l i t i e s . There had been some c o n v e r s a t i o n o n

t h e h i g l i p r i c e of v/tvtor and I had an opportunity t o v i s i t t h e B e t h e l

vratervrorks, Thoy a r e o\ mcd p r i v a t e l y b y E r . A r t Nicholson, t h o p a r t -

time mayor. He has a v r e l l next t o h i s house. D r i l l i n g tha-cugh about

4 00 f e e t o f p o r r i i a f r o s t h e h i t a sand l a y e r a nd v r a t e r . T ho water i s

pumped i n t o two l a r g e tanlrs i n h i s basement vrhore i t i s c h l o r i n a t e d . J

pipe l e a d s t o a tank t r u c k which d e l i v e r s t he i r a t e r t o t h o h o v i s c h o l d s .

T h o p r i c e depends o n q u a n t i t y coni;umed and range.^ from 6^ a g a l l o n f o r

s m a ll q u a n t i t i e s , dovm t o 2 ^ a g a l l o n f o r l a r g e consumers, s u c l : as t h e

ovrner of the "l\u-.dra Shack." K r . Nicholson h a s i n h i s basement a l s o h

own sewage d i s p o s a l p l a n t , c o n s i s t i n g o f an a e r a t i o n tank ar,d a stcragr

tank from v rh ic h t h e e f f l u e n t i s r e l c a s c f i o f f and on into a slough, o r



13

d i s p o s a l i n s t a l l a t i o n v;hich s e r v e s Mr. Nicholson's own l i v i n g quarters

and another apartment c o s t s about $4,000, (Four thousand). '

The foregoing i s a l i t t l e i l l u s t r a t i o n of tho problems of pro

v i d i n g water and sewage d i s p o s a l in theTundra, The Tundra i s f l a t

l a n d with no t r e e s or bushes, c r i s s c r b s s e d by r i v e r s and l a l c e s , l a r g e

and. s m a l l . At t h i s time they are p r a c t i c a l l y i n d i s t i n g u i s h a b l e be-

cause eve rythi ng i s covered vrith snow. Even on t h i s sunny day i twas

bleak and barren, an enormous ^v h i te e x paj ise .

Bethel on the l a r g e Kuskovrin R i v e r vdth a popu].ation of about 1,600,

i s tho t r a d i n g center for 40 Eskimo v i l l a g e s . There ar^- a f a i r nvuuber

o f vrell-equipped s t o r e s , warehouses, and s e v e r a l o u t f i t s providing

c h a r t e r a i r s e r v i c e to the v i l l a g e s in f o u r - s e a t e r , one-engine Cessna

p l a n e s . The government ( h o s p i t a l , BIA, PHS, National Guard) i s q u i t e in

evidence.

The Eskimo population l i v e s inmis era ble, makeshift sha cks , wholly

inadequate under any circumstances and most p i t i f u l in the c o l d c l i m a t e .

T h i s f o u r t h of A p r i l s t a r t e d out with 4 ° above zero. I t warmed up dui'-

i n g theday. On m.any days, hovrover, ther e i s no sun to vrarm the a i r .

I t i s amazing t h a t anybody can as much as s u r v i v e thewinter vrith temper

a t u r e s of 40 below and c o l d e r . T h i s i s Eskimo country. V.bmer. wear

b e a u t i f u l parkas and fur boots. Many vroar over t l i e parka the f u l l - l e n g t h

kashpak, a s o r t of cotton s l i p cover which p r o t e c t s the fur but vrhich

a l s o g i v e s thewsarer a heavy shapeless form.



14

The main purpose o f t h e v i s i t t o B e t h e l v a s t h e i n s p e c t i o n o f t h e

p r e f a b r i c a t e d domonstration house f o r t h e t r e e l e s s Tvmdra, ( t h e second

a s p e c t o f t h e demonstration). I t v ras shipped i n from S e a t t l e a i id ^

e r e c t e d on t he o u t s k i r t s o f to v . T i . I t i s n ot a f u l l s u c c e s s .

ASKA had chosen a p r e f a b r i c a t e d frame house which p o t e n t i a l l y c ou ld

be reproduced i n A l a s k a , u s i n g upstream lumber r e s o u r c e s t h a t c o u l d b o

r a f t e d down t h e r i v e r s . -

T h e m a t e r i a l package c o s t $2,500; s h i p p i n g b y boat added $2,200 t o

t h e c o s t ; l o c a l m a t e r i a l s , i n c l u d i n g a $400 s t o v e , added another $1,000,

The house v ras e r e c t e d b y Youth Corps and p r i s o n l a b o r . .

The b a s i c p l a n i s s i m i l a r t o t h a t o f t h e G r a y l i n g house. I l o v j s v o r ,

t h e second c r t h i r d grade q u a l i t y of plj-v70od on t h e i n s i d o v r a l l s i s l o s s

s a t i s f a c t o r y than t h e v r a l l board i n G r a y l i n g . Apparently t h e components

d i d n ot alv rays f i t p r e c i s e l y and h ad t o b o f o r c e d i n t o p l a c e .

Tho o i l s t ov e i n t he k i t c h e n - l i v i n g room uses $13 worth o f o i l a

week i n t h e c o l d season, novr about h a l f as much. I n other v r o r d s , h e a t

i n g t h e house c o s t s much more than t h e $15 r e n t which t h e p r e s e n t occu-

pants a r e paying. B ut th e o i l b i l l o b v i o u s l y v ras n o t regarded a s e x c e s

s i v e .

The house wa s occupied b y a f a m i l y o n w e l f a r e v ; h i ch h ad l i t e r a l l y

no f u r n i t u r e . A makeshift t a b l e , c r a te s t o s i t o n , a cot and one bed

were t h e e x t e n t o f i t . I n t h e absence o f c l o s e t s and c h e s t s , c l o t h i n g

was p i l e d i n a f i l t h y mess on tho f l o o r . Tlie c o n t r a s t t o t h e houses

o f even t h e poorest and l e a s t educated i n G r a y li n g vras s t a r t l i n g . I n



15

G r a y l i n g Khero most houses do not havo c l o s e t s e i t h e r c l o t h i n g v:as hung

up or tucked av;ay. I f any of our party had been i n v i t e d to s t a y vriLth '

the occupants of t h i s Bethel house i t i s not l i k e l y t h a t anyone woulid

have a v a i l e d himself of the opportunity.

Nunapichuk v:as reached by ono-engine piano. With a I96O population

of 327, i t i s a p i c t u i ' e of unmitigated misery, of makeshift hovels aLuost

completely covered by snow. Some entrances to houses arevi a t u n n e l s .

They saythere arc boardv;alks connecting the c l o s e l y huddled houses.

I f there arei t w i l l be a long time before thsy are v i s i b l e again. Dog

s l e d s c r o s s over thet u n d r i i j one could not sayi f i t i s land or water.

I n Nunapichui: thesnow t r a v e l e r i s r a r e indeed, A i r f r o i g h t c d i n t o

Bethel i t c o s t $795.

There i s one b r i g h t spot in tho e n t i r e p i c t u r e : the school b u i l t

by BIA. Apparently many other v i l l a g e s have one. I t may bo thebridge to

a b r i g h t e r f u t u r e avray from the v i l l a g e . The plane of Jimmix Ai r Ser

v i c e took us back to B e t h e l , a r e s p e c t a b l e small j e t prop to Anchorago

and the c i v i l i z a t i o n of a modern w e l l appointed h o t e l . I don't rnAnd

roughing i t . But tho r e t u r n to r e l i a b l y r u j i n i n g water i s pl easant i n

deed.

To Jujioau and Metlakatla

• Departure from /anchorage v;as scheduled for 10 a.m. on Cordova

A i r l i n e s , A p r i l 6. But something was f c j n d v.Tong vrith tho plane as i t

was r a c i n g dovm the runvray for t a k o off. Deplaning. V.'aiting. V.nile

wo were vraiting up comes Mr. N o t t i , owner of S t, Mary's Charter S e r v i c e



16

and t e l l s t h a t ho i s g e t t i n g ready to f l y a part y from the Econonic

Development Administration a l l over Alas ka. Anchorage i s t r u l y an

i n t e r n a t i o n a l a i r p o r t . F l i g h t s are anno;mced to Hamburg, to Copenhagen

and Oslo,- or to Tokyo, as v e i l as to innumerable p l a c e s t h a t the non-

Alaskan has never heard of.

F i n a l l y , at 1 p.m. , a nevr plane vas brought i n - a DC 3 v - i t h much

of the s e a t i n g space taken up by cargo. Cha.mpagne vas the only t h i n g

j u s t i f y i n g the f i r s t c l a s s charge. Tho box lunch vras s t r i c t l y economy.

I t ' s 650 miles from Anchorage to Juneau. On the vay i s some of the

most dram.atic scenery anyv-.'here in the world: to the r i g h t the P a c i f i c ,

t o the l e f t the snow-covored mountains r i s i n g up to 18,000 f e e t s h a r p l y

from the soa and sending dovrn to tho water's edge ono g l a c i e r a f t e r an

other. •

V.'ith tv:o stops and a t\.'0-hour time d i f f e r e n c e i t t/as past 7 p.m.

when v;e a r r i v e d in Juneau. There i s only ono plane a day to A r j i e t t e

I s l a n d , tho a i r p o r t for M e t l a k a t l a . I t had departed hours ago.

At dinner in Junoau, we v.'ore j o i n e d by Senator Yule K i l c h o r vrho

stems from Solothurn, SwitzorD.and, and homesteads on tho Kenai F s n i n i ^ u l a ,

He had once s t u d i e d i n B e r l i n about tho same time I had, reason enough

i n Alaska to boccms f r i e n d s . The party adjourned from tho s t a i d Baranof

Hotel to the n o t - s o - s t ? . i d Red Dog Saloon, a must fo r any o u t s i d e r . Here

ve were j o i n e d by Representa tive Moran, an Irishman v:ho i s German counsul

i n Anchorage. The gentlemen i n s i s t e d t h a t I be introduced to the l o g i s -

l a t u r o , now in s e s s i o n . And so I vas t Y e next r . o r n i n g , amdd a c t i o n on

a r o s o l u t i c ; ; objcclAn^ to F l f i l ^ ' s re g ul -i t io; :! un-'or v r h i ch i t v i l l net



17

a c c e p t mortgages over $15,000. A t A l a s k a ' s p r i c e l e v e l , i t i s main-

tain.-5Q,no houses could be b u i l t here i f t he r u l e s t a n d s . ?

Senator K i l c h o r g ot a b i t confused on i n t r o d u c i n g me, s a y i n g t l l a t •

ve had attended tho same u n i v e r s i t y b e f o r e World V.'ar I . I took ex

c e p t i o n and another S e n a t o r , t o t h o g r e a t d e l i g h t o f everyone, moved

t h a t the r ef er en ce to l.W I be re pl ac ed i n the r ec or d by V.vJ I I . Such

a r e t h e e v e n t s i n A l a s k a ' s c a p i t a l A-.'hen a p l a n e s c h e d u l e goes avn-y.

The plane from Junoau t o Annette I s l a n d i s supposed t o l e a v e a t

12:35* To nobody's s u r p r i s e i t d i d n o t . Tho enon.ious Je t had not even

a r r i v e d . Reason: a f l a t t i r e a t i t s l a s t s t o p . I t v;ou3.d be one hoiu'

l a t e v e v e r e t o l d . R e s u l t , a d r i v e f o r Ivmcheon a t Mendenhall G l a c i e r ,

a b e a u t i f u l i c e f a l l i n t u r q u o i s e b l u e c o l o r , a nd a charming v i s i t o r s '

c e n t e r p u t a t i t s f o o t b y t h e N a t i o n a l F o r e s t S e r v i c e . (NFS d e s e r v e s

a s p e c i a l mer.tion f o r vrhat i t d i d h'-x-a). Ea.ck to tho a i r p o r t , no plane

y e t . B ut i t f i n a l l y a r r i v e d and took o f f f o r t h e 40-minute f l i g h t t o

Annette I s l a n d . Here vre vrero met by "ayor Henry S , L i t t l o f i e l d , J r . ,

o f M e t l a k a t l a . Annette I s l a n d i s t ho o n l y I n d i a n R e s e r v a t i o n i n

A l a s k a . The j o t a i r p o r t i s c n l a n d l e a s e d from t h o I n d i a n s , a s a r e t h e

Coast Guard and other m i l i t a r y i n s t a l l a t i o n s .

I f G r a y l i n g aiid Nunapichuk vero examples o f n a t i v e groups only on

t h e t h r e s h o l d o f modorn a g e , M e t l a k a t l a v i t h a I 9 6O p o p u l a t i o n o f 8CS,

i n c o n t r a s t , i s a modern c o o p e r a t i v e c c m - i u n i t y vrith cor.munity ov-ned

cannery, a savr m . i l l , povror p l a n t , v a t c r system, a nuraber o f l a r g e c h u r c h e s

and the quite re:;ently occupied r . u t u a l - h o l p houses, b u i l t under the PHA



18

mutual program. T he e v a l u a t i o n o f t h i s housing, b y t he U n i v e r s i t y o f

A l a s k a , i s t h e t h i r d a s p e c t o f t h e low-income housing demonstration.

The houses, a l l i d e n t i c a l , a r e s c a t t e r e d among t h e e x i s t i n g houses

wherever the re was a vac an t l o t . The prograjn ha s been s o s u c c e s s f u l

t h a t t h e v i l l a g e h as a p p l i e d f o r JO more. O b v i o u s l y t h e r e i s a l o n g

t r a d i t i o n here o f c o o p e r a t i o n a nd community a c t i o n . I n a d d i t i o n t o th o

cannery run by the community t h e r e i s a l a r g e community c e n t e r b u i l t by

th e v i l l a g e r s some y e a r s a g o .

Mayor L i t t l e f i e l d h as i n h i s o f f i c e i n t h o C o u n c i l Chamber b u i l d i n g

a whole l i b r a r y o f i n f o r m a t i o n a l m a t e r i a l on F e d e r a l program^s t h a t c a n

be o f a s s i s t a n c e t o t h e comm.unity, from the GEO guidebooks, s o e a s i l y

r e c o g n i z e d b y t h o i r c o l o r f u l c o v e r s , t o th e d i r e c t o r y o f t h e A c c e l e r a t e d

P u b l i c V.'orks Progra m ( t h o l a t t e r p r o v i d e d money f o r much needed r o a d s ) .

Tho houses v.'hich appear to be vrell b u i l t heve l i v i n g room, d i n i n g

a r e a , modern k i t c h e n , b a t h , t h r e e bedrooms. Because e l e c t r i c i t y vrhich

comes from a vrater-povrered, community ovmed p l a n t i s cheap, h e a t , h o t

water, an d cooking a r e a l l e l e c t r i c . Th e monthIl.y p&y v i e nt s and f i n a l

c o s t f i g u r e s havo n o t y e t boon determined.

•VJhile the a e s t h e t i c s o f t h e o u t s i d e o f t h e houses l e a v e something

t o be d e s i r e d , t h e houses appear as s u b s t a n t i a l as many t h a t '.•ould bo

found i n C a l i f c i - n i a s u b d i v i s i o n s . The occupants soem w e l l s a t i s f i e d .

Emp3.oyiiicnt i s s ea s on a l. Co n s tr uc ti on wa s c a r r i e d out when peoplo

had timo t o s p a r e an d i n t e r r u p t e d vrhon the salt-.on f i s h i n g s e a s o n began.

S t i l l t h e houses wore f i n i s h e d vrithin about a y e a r . I t s h o u l d bo i n t e r -



19

d i f f e r e n c e s - p h y s i c a l , economic, t e c h j i o l o g i c a l - between G r a y l i n g and

M e t l a k a t l a . Tho t i r o p l a c e s a r e worlds a p a r t .

A f l i g h t in a 4 - s e a t e r s e a p l a n e t a k e s the v i s i t o r to K e t c h i k a n j

20 m i l e s away, the o n l y p l a c o v a t h o v e r n i g h t accommodations. T h i s i s

t h e southernmost ond of A l a s k a , probably one thousand m i l e s s o u t h e a s t

o f Anchorage. VJith green f o r e s t s of rod c e d a r and p i n e i t resembles

nearby B r i t i s h Columbia more than i c y A l a s k a . There was a garden v.dth

ic r o c u s e s and thew i l l o w s wore s p r o u t i n g . T h i s was a l s o the ond of a

r e v r a r d i n g t r i p . ,

SunTmsr;/

Th o roughly I5OO m i l e s of A l a s k a which I sa w , from B e t h e l in tho

v j o s t to M a t l a k a t l a in tho s o u t h e a s t , a r c s t i l l o n l y a s m a l l p a r t of t h i

imaionse s t a t e . I saw some of the b l e a k e s t c o u n t r y , tha t u n d r a , and so;"

o f the m.ost m a g n i f i c e n t s c e n e r y a l o ng the P a c i f i c c o a s t . I mot people

l i v i n g in the most p r i m i t i v e mi s e r y , theEskim.os of Nunapichuk; I n d i a n s

t a k i n g a g i a n t s t e p toward a d a p t a t i o n to modern l i v i n g , oven i f f a r

from a c h i e v i n g i t y e t , in G r a y l i n g ; aaid I n d i a n s f u l l y a p a r t of the

modern economy even i f handicapped by s e a s o n a b l e emploj^Tnent and the

u n c e r t a i n v a g a r i e s of the salmon r u n , in M e t l a k a t l a .

A l a s k a n s seem in a quandry about thobest a j j p r o a e h e s to s o l v i n g th

problems of tho n a t i v e p o p u l a t i o n . Housing i s paramount, but there is

a l s o groat concern about p r o v i d i n g houses whore there i s an adequate

economic base. At p r e s e n t e f f o r t s areunderway to b u i l d r e g i o n a l voca-

t i o n a l h i g h schools (vritli EDA funds) and d o r r d t o r y f a c i l i t i e s f o r tho



20

young people v;ho can get a hig h sch ool educa tio n only avay from hone.

The expectation seem s to bo that once the young people have better

s k i l l s they can f i n d emplojnient outside the remote v i l l a g e s . ^

I t becomes obvious that housing improvement in the remote v i l l a g e s

cannot bo achieved under the conventional e x i s t i n g programs. The

house m.ust be small i f i t i s to be warm; running v:ater i d l l often not

be a v a i l a b l e ; t o i l e t f a c i l i t i e s w i l l bo p r i m i t i v e . Customiary long-

term fin anci ng i s out of the question fo r houses vrhich are out side a

housing market, vrhich are of value to tho occupants only and vrhich m^ay

l o s e t h o i r value i f v i l l a g e people desert the v i l l a g e s for the better

employment opportimities of the l a r g e r centers (a l i k e l y but not

c e r t a i n trend). Yet a r e l a t i v e l y sma ll investment, as i n Gr ay li ng ,

v i l l produce an immense improvement and riay v r e l l be tho f i r s t step

toward adaption to the 20th c e n t i a r y .

" ; Throughout the t r i p Kr. Blomfield of ASIIA vras a pleasant aa;d

i n v e n t i v e e s c o r t , Ee vras concerned for tho v r e l f a r e of his charge and

anxious fo r her not to mdss anv-thing of s i g n i f i c a n c e , including i n t r o -

ductions to people a l l over, arranging fo r a dinner at hi s house, a

king crab party at the o f f i c e r ' s club at a m . i l i t a r y base near Anchorage,

persuading tho p i l o t of a bush plane to f i n d moose, procuring meals and

q u a r t e r s , finding other es cor ts vrhen ho himself vras busy. I a r r i v e d a

"Checchako," tho Alaska equivalent of a dude. I l e f t v r i t h some under-

standing of the oconomic, c l i m . a t i c and p o l i t i c a l co:;diticn3. Housing

i s so c l o s e l y t i e d to these tha t the unders tanding of tho l a r g e r i s s i i o s



21

I was much impressed -vrith the q u a l i t y of ASHA s t a f f . Thereis

d r i v e , inventive ness, imagination, and resourcefulness inu t i l i z i n g '

j

e x i s t i n g programs. I t i s evident, hovrever, that imder the quite s p a t i a l

conditions ofAlaska di ff er en t standards, are requir ed, prafera bly with

t h ? capitaJL inv^sstrcent w ri tt en offto' a l a r g e degree instead cfusing the

c i b s i d y d o v i c i ' . Inniumb&rs thoproblem cfhousing Alaskan natives i s not

l a r g e , perhaps 10,000 households. Inurgency i t i s tremendous.

Completion ofDemonstration •

The ASHA has on hand time and cost data on t l i e building of the

s t r u c t u r e s inGrayling. They are notwholly co:cplete, butd e t a i l e d

data was recorded on various phases topermit conclusions as to what

i t takes to do a self-ho3.p house.

The professor at Alaska Stat e, Mit chel l Eerk-un, who vjas incharge

of theevaluation, had departed f o rQuinnipiac College in Connecticut.

He promises d e l i v e r y of his part at the end of thesu.:a-.-ier. Upon Mr.

Blomfield's urging him - v i a phone - toproduce a det ail ed outlino within

two v,'oeks he agreed toprepare one by May 1. Simultaneously the ASHA

v i l l prepare an outline of thee n t i r e report for our reviev;. Mr.

Blomfield v . ' i l l d r a f t hi s p a r t , but theputtir.g toget her end e d i t i n g

of thee n t i r e report i - 7 i l l bo dene by K r . Keith Arnold, p u b l i c i t y man on

the Authority's s t a f f .

Fo r thes o c i o l o g i c a l and psychological aspects ASILA. i s dependent

on Pr of ess or Ber]:un. Pr es su re must be teinpored i f ASIL*i i s to get an

adequate docuinont. • .



• 22

K e i t h Arnold appears competent f o r doing t h e j o b . V'o d i s c u s s e d

format, and agreed t ha t v:e woiild aim f o r a re ad ab le document of abovjt

100 to 125 p r i n t e d pages, o r 40,000 words, vdth t h e t e x t i n c o r p o r a t

i n g only t h e f i g u r e s n e c e s s a r y f o r an understanding o f t h e b a s i c

demonstration. An appendix w i l l c o n t a i n t ho d e t a i l e d d a t a .

The r e s u l t s o f t h e G r a y l i n g demonstration w i l l d i f f e r from those

t h a t were o r i g i n a l l y a n t i c i p a t e d . I t i s no t r e a l l y a t e c h n o l o g i c a l

demonstration because c o n s t r u c t i o n methods were ' r a t h e r c o n v e n t i o n a l

and no p a r t i c u l a r t e s t i n g of m.ethods took p l a c e . Such t e c h n i c a l t e s t s

a r e now a v a i l a b l e i n a P u b l i c K o a l t h S e r v i c e p u b l i c a t i o n which d e s c r i b e s

f o u r t e s t liOUses and t h e i r performances. T e s t s wore conducted for ox-

ar;ple on heat l o s s a t v a r i o u s temperatures and vrind v e l o c i t i e s .

Tho mutual-help s i t u a t i o n i n G r a y l i n g d i f f e r e d from what v:ould bo

.a normal s e l f - h e l p undertaking. VH-.en c o n s t r u c t i o n s t a r t e d nobody had

a house, t h e y a l l needed o n o . Nobody could be f i r e d f o r non-performance

There c o u l d be no advance p r e p a r at i o n o f th o p a r t i c i p a n t s , becauso o f

t h e desperate need t o b u i l d . There was no wa y t o i n s t i l l m.otivation.

I f t h e p a r t i c i p a n t t hov igh t i t m.orc important to do something e l s e , s a y

f i s h i n g , nothdng c o u l d prevent bin from doing s o . Y e t , th er e are m.-ny

elements i n t h e porformaiico vrhich v d l l be o f g r e a t i n t e r e s t t o othor

Alaskan a r e a s a s w e l l as to such other p a r t s o f t h e country where people

l i v e o n t h o f r i n g e s o r o u t s i d e o f a modorn economy.

Metla!:atla wa s i n s&.-o ways a b e t t e r t o s t s e t t i n g . T h e p a r t i c i p a n t

had houses, i f - i n n d e q u s t e ones. T h e y i c o u l d bo f i r e d a nd were f i r e d when



24

n e r i t . N e i t h e r the A u t h o r i t y nor the U n i v e r s i t y can put t h o i r f i n d i n g s

i n the"same terms of p o l i c y t h a t an o u t s i d e e v a l u a t o r c o u l d . An out-

s i d e e x p e r t vrho v o u l d observe e x i s t i n g housing c o n d i t i o n s , the economic

c o n t e x t , and the approaches made i n G r a y l i n g , B e t h e l , and M e t l a k a t l a ,

c o u l d make o b s e r v a t i o n s and recommendations r e g a r d i n g s t a n d a r d s , the

m e r i t s and l i m i t s of the s e l f - h e l p approach, the r u l a t i o n s h i p of housing

t o economic development; he c o u l d drav; c o n c l u s i o n s r e g a r d i n g program

a l t e r n a t i v e s more o b j e c t i v e l y than c o u l d the d i r e c t l y i n v o l v e d p a r t i e s .

T he f i n d i n g s vr oul d i n p a r t be a p p l i c a b l e to e f f o r t s forp r o v i d i n g im-

proved housing i n ir.-:poverished r u r a l a r e a s throughout the c o u n t r y ,

Vvhile no o t h e r s have the same g r i n c l i i n a t c , o t h e r f a c t o r s may v ^ l l be

comparable.

report on a trip to alaska, april 1966, by elfriede fischer hoeber

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