In the past it was our Alaska Native Brotherhood/Alaska Native Sisterhood that kept us together. But now it isn’t so. It’s become open to non-Natives. How did this happen, and by whom? It belongs to us only.
Our IRA (Indian Re-organization Act) was created to keep our people accounted for and help the needy. Do they? No. They seem to be one happy family by themselves. No jobs, culture or anything from them. They have it where no one can run unless they fulfill two years of service. For who? This doesn’t happen in any of the IRAs in Southeast. They help each other and teach. What do we have? (Nothing.) If our elders were here today, they’d be ashamed of you, as I am.
I’ve been back since 1997 and yet to see our IRA do good for the people. Seems they forgot who they are.
Phillip Jackson