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This convention will be a milestone and a point of new departure from which to
carry on the pilgrimage of the small and weak minority to a place of dignity
among the peoples of this country. The work we do, and the work we make plans
for, will give you an added right to hold up your heads in pride when the
Indian race is named. Now, there may be people of Indian ancestry who would
prefer to have it left unmentioned. I am confident that their number had
diminished during the past year--their pride in their race has increased as a
result of the group action taken by this organization. The number of those
ashamed to admit their Indian blood will become every fewer in the years to
come. In the very near future we will see Indianhood become a universal badge
of honor. The Indian race will attain its rightful recognition as one of the
great people of the earth.

The Alaska Native Brotherhood Convention. - I have just experienced an
example of the sort of spirit that will win this war for Indian rights, the
spirit that has already won its initial battles. I have just returned from the
beautiful little city of Sitka, Alaska, where I attended the six-day annual convention of your affiliated organization--the Alaska Native Brotherhood and the Alaska Native Sisterhood. I am sure you would be delighted by the fraternal affection and cordial goodwill that these far-off brothers and sisters of yours
have expressed for you. Your secretary, Mrs. Ruth Muskrat Bronson, is treated
as their patron saint. The names of Judge N. B. Johnson, Bon Dwight and the
others are by-words in the territory. I bring you the personal greetings and
good wishes of Cyril Zubof, the outgoing Grand President, Cyrus Peck, who was
newly elected to that office, Mrs. Amy Hollingstad, Grand President of the
Alaska Native Sisterhood, Lestor Roberts, the Secretary of the Brotherhood, At-
torney William Paul, Jr., who was a delegate to your convention at Santa Fe
last year, and of all the other leaders of that strong and effective organization.

The National Congress of American Indians can take a leaf from the book of
the Alaska Brotherhood. From some 17 poverty-stricken villages, a total of 93
enthusiastic delegates attended the meeting. It lasted for six days, including
sessions that continued to all hours of the morning. Most of the delegates
were housed and fed at the homes of Indians in Sitka. Many of the delegates
gave up opportunities to earn at fishing the money their families badly need in
order to come to the convention and help families of other Indians. The deliberations were dignified and energetic. The resolutions were well considered and carefully drafted. The program for the coming year is an aggressive and solid one. It will involve heavy sacrifices of time, money and effort not merely from officers but from all members of the Brotherhood. In referring to the Alaska Native Brotherhood, I have no desire to belittle the accomplishments of the National Congress. To the contrary I can add my personal appreciation to the
deep gratitude of the Brotherhood for that work. The Brotherhood is grateful
especially for that part of the work which is for the direct benefit of the
Indians of Alaska. This leads me to the first part of the substance of my re-
port, which deals with the work that the Congress has done on Alaskan problems.

The Alaska Land Title Problem. - I am in an especially advantageous position to speak on this subject because I have worked on it in three different capacities--as attorney for the Indian towns, as senior attorney for the Alaska

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