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COULD ASSOCIATE WITH THE SO-CALLED WHITE MAN.

ONE INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS A STAUNCH CHURCH-PILLAR TESTIFIED THAT IT WOULD TAKE 30-100 YEARS BEFORE ANY INDIAN COULD ASSOCIATE WITH THE WHITE MAN. AS A PROTESTANT, I GUES YOU COULD CALL ME A LAZY PRESBYTERIAN. I ALMOST BECAME A CATHOLIC BECAUSE PEOPLE OF OUR OWN FAITH DID NOT BELIEVE WE WERE READY TO ASSOCIATE WITH THEM.

I LEARNED MY FIRST LESSON IN POLITICS DURING THAT SESSION ABOUT CUT-THROAT POLITICIANS. WE LOBBIED WITH VARIOUS LEGISLATORS TO SUPPORT OUR BILL AND THE DAY THE BILL WAS COMING UP BEFORE THE HOUSE, I TALKED WITH A REPRESENTATIVE FROM ANCHORAGE WHO WAS A KEY MAN IN GETTING VOTES TO PUT OVER OUR BILL. I APPROACHED HIM AT THE DOOR OF THE CHAMBERS AND HE ASSURED ME HE WOULD SUPPORT OUR BILL. I WAS SO ELATED I INFORMED MY FRIENDS IN THE GALLERY THAT THE BILL WOULD PASS. ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, LO AND BEHOLD, THIS NEW FOUND FRIEND OF MINE FROM ANCHORAGE SWITCHED VOTES AND KILLED THE BILL ON A TIE VOTE. WE HAD TO WAIT UNTIL 1945 TO INTRODUCE A BILL AS THE TERRITORIAL LEGISLATURE MET EVERY OTHER YEAR DURING THOSE DAYS.

ANB AND ANS WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN HAVING TWO OR THREE OF OUR INDIAN MEAN ELECTED TO THE LEGISLATURE DURING THE INTERIM. ONE WAS ANDREW HOPE AND ANOTHER MY BROTHER FRANK. I BELIEVE THE FOLLOWING ELECTION WE GOT FRANK JOHNSON IN. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, WE HAD SOME HELP IN THE 1945 SESSION. WE HAD TERRIFIC OPPOSITION BUT THE BILL PASSED THE LEGISLATURE WITH FLYING COLORS. PASSAGE OF THIS LEGISLATION FORCED THE PROPRIETORS TO REMOVE THEIR INSULTING SIGNS AND WERE FORCED TO ADMIT INDIANS TO THEIR ESTABLISHMENTS.

I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT THAT SINCE THE ENACTMENT OF THIS LAW NONE OF OUR INDIANS HAVE EVER FILED CHARGES OF DISCRIMINATION UNDER

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