 by Don Hoff Jr. May 17, 2004
Who is prejudice or racist? Fifty or seventy years ago in Ketchikan and Alaska, Indians were not allowed to join certain fraternities (e.g. Moose Club, Elks,). Indians had to sit in the balcony at the theaters, "No Indians allowed" signs at restaurants. Indians were not allowed to attend certain schools and had to go to Indian Government boarding schools in Sitka, Wrangell or the lower 48 and that goes on today. Indians were brainwashed in believing we were inferior to the white man. Indians were segregated at St. John Church that they built. There was a split in the church. The Indians built the St. Elizabeth Church to attend and were not allowed to vote. I often wonder has anything changed? If it wasn't for Ketchikan Indian Corporation, Indian Health Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs or Sealaska Corporation giving Indians jobs, we would be in serious trouble getting Indians employment in Ketchikan. The term "Indian town" is a place that starts around the Chief Johnson totem pole south where most of the Indian, Japanese, Filipino, Chinese, Blacks and 'Ladies of the Night' lived. "New town" is a place that starts north of the tunnel. I guess downtown Ketchikan was a neutral. Years ago, Indians were discouraged to venture into New Town. I am not a stranger to writing opinions. I been writing for years mostly on Subsistence. Recently, the designed bridge to Gravina Island via Pennock Island, Alaska Permanent Fund, shooting wolves from airplanes, the blight of herring and asinine State officials. Again, except my sincere apology
for sounding prejudice or racist. I am just really angry. This
is my own opinion.
and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Sitnews.
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