Angoon, Mt. Edgecumbe, & Sitka,
Alaska
April 14, 15, & 16, 1993
ALASKA NATIVES COMMISSION
JOINT FEDERAL-STATE COMMISSION
ON
POLICIES AND PROGRAMS AFFECTING
ALASKA NATIVES
4000 Old Seward Highway, Suite 100
Anchorage,
Alaska 99503
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Witness List | PDF
Version
ALASKA NATIVES COMMISSION
EDUCATION TASK FORCE
HEARING
APRIL 15 and 16, 1993
SITKA, ALASKA
CONTINUED - MT. EDGECUMBE - APRIL 15, 1993
AND
SITKA - APRIL 16, 1993
DR. SOBOLEFF: “Isabelle Brady.”
MS. BRADY: Isabelle Brady introduces herself in a Native
language. She says, “Welcome to Sitka. I'm 69 years old, my husband is 70.
I attended BIA schools. I'm also a member of the ANS, Alaska Native Sisterhood.
I have a very good education.
“Mt. Edgecumbe has produced real good educations. We need
to have professional people. Mt. Edgecumbe is really good, it's really helped
here. There's been some talk about closing; do not close Mt. Edgecumbe. Part
of -- one of the big important things in Mt. Edgecumbe is the networking.
And, Sally, you know that. You know each other and the young people keep
track of each other, they keep in touch with each other. Mt. Edgecumbe is
the top school in the state.
“We aren't working at it. The corporation is part
of the problem. There's bingo, there's happy hour.
This is causing a lot of problems with our people. Diabetes is on the upswing.
There's teenage pregnancy. In
the area of drug and alcohol we have had some success.
“Russia has free health care. Canada has health care. Health care is way too costly. I didn't know how much. Someone asked me how much something would have cost me and I didn't know. That's a problem for people that aren't getting that assistance.” She is now speaking of subsistence. “That's
a way of life. It's like using our hooligan oil and seaweed.
The land is our birthright, but as Natives we never owned
it, and that’s just not right. Who gave anyone permission to sell our land?
In Klukwan, culture is retained.”
(Off the record - tape changed - Tape 5)
(On the record)
MS. BRADY: “We're seeing more and more dysfunctional families.
“I want you to know, I really enjoy the newsletter from
the Native Commission, it makes a lot of sense.”
MR. TOWARAK: “There's a new one available back on the
pick-- up table. Thank you. Of the students yesterday, three, four, five,
six of them, they mentioned they were unable to talk to their peers back
in the village.”
MS. KOOKESH: She says that when she was at Mt. Edgecumbe,
Isabelle was there, and “she really helped us to survive.”
MS. MASEK: “I have just a few comments. You seem very
dedicated and you bring up the issue of family life. I think that's a big
issue. When we were in the Lower Y-K Delta, Bethel has a hot breakfast program.
We should look into that more.”
MS. BRADY: “My own family, there was some dysfunction
in it. I raised my granddaughter, she's really something special, and I've
tried to make her realize that, or make her think that she's someone special
also.”
MS. KOOKESH: She feels it's very important to have the extended family coming to take over when there's problems, instead of outside forces.
MR. TOWARAK: He asks Ms. Brady, “What's your view of DFYS?”
MS. BRADY: “The paperwork is just horrendous, and the
elderly people, they should get some assistance.”
MS. KOOKESH: “Would it cut into your social security if
you got additional funds?”
MS. BRADY: “Well, like as far as food stamps, we're not
eligible.
“Clinton and Gore, they're so young, and there's really
a lot to be learned, a lot of value, with the elders. It's sadly missing.
“The history of Alaska, we are unique. If you look at
the movies, you just get mad. It makes us just look stupid. The history really
needs to be corrected.”
MS. MASEK: She says that in Alakanuk, the elders really wanted to teach that history and they would like anyone who teaches there to take a course in Native Alaskan history.
MS. BRADY: “I'd really recommend that. But we'd have to
be so careful.”
DR. SOBOLEFF: “Thank you.”
MS. MASEK: “I have one more question. I think that's a
very good comment about the health care, it's a good topic. You know, a lot
of times we bake that for granted.”
MS. BRADY: “You know, sometimes people put a paper bag
over their head.”
(Side conversation)
This document was ocr scanned. We have made every
attempt to keep the online document the same as the original,
including the recorder's original misspellings or typos.
