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Teen Centers in the
Bush
Small villages need funding from the
state to build teen centers. These teen centers should be
equipped with games and activities that would turn
teenagers' heads. The lack of such a building in Marshall
has led teens to negative alternative activities. Ever since
the pool hall was shut down, a lot of middle school and high
school students have been getting in trouble for criminal
activities such as drug and alcohol abuse. Village children
have a lot of time on their hands, especially during the
summer months, because there aren't enough jobs to go
around. When they get tired of doing the same old thing
every day for three months straight, they tend to
experiment. Their experiments either end up in violence,
addiction to tobacco, drugs and/or alcohol, and a criminal
record. I've witnessed a lot of people change over the years
because of their little experiments.
I think that the state government along
with the municipalities should try a little experimenting of
their own. They should build centers where children could
hang out in a drug, alcohol and violence-free environment.
My hypothesis of the results of this experimert is that our
future generations will not begin to abuse drugs, alcohol or
each other, and they will learn that fun and happiness can
be found without drugs, alcohol or violence.
Rose L. Fitka
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Wrong Place For A Dump
Site
Five years ago there was talk in the
village of Marshall that we were going to get a new dump
site, one with an actual burner built into it. Well, four
years ago it finally came true. But before we got the money
for a new dump, everyone in the village first had to vote on
where the dump site would be located. There was a variety of
places to choose from. There was a place across the creek,
which was a bad place. There was another place by the sewage
lagoon in which nothing would be burned, only recycled,
which was a very good idea.
Instead of these sites, they chose one on
the tundra right behind the village. The problem with this
one is that during the winter in Marshall we always have
cross winds, which mostly come from the east, and when the
trash is burned, the smoke comes straight into town and the
scent is very strong and stinky.
I think that the people should have
thought more deeply before making this decision. They have
been living here longer than I have, and they all knew about
the type of winds we've got here. Now, everyone has to smell
the nasty stench the dump gives off when they burn the
trash. Just because some people didn't think
twice!
Mildred Fitka
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Marshall
Cultural Atlas
