The Teacher and the Superintendent follows the lives of two eager individuals whose misguided efforts to assimilate the Alaska Natives reflect the motives of both the church and the government. Through letters and diary entries, George E. Boulter and Alice A. Green share honest accounts of their work in Alaska from 1904–1918.
Wade Davis, former Explorer in Residence at the National Geographic Society and professor of Anthropology at UBC called George and Alice’s story,
“A fascinating account of the not so distant past when two worlds came together—that of Europe, with its missionary zeal, and that of the Indigenous peoples of the North. One cannot help but sympathize with the sincere hopes and bitter disappointments of the newcomers, as they struggled to impose a new social and moral order on another culture. At the same time, one can easily sense the spiritual devastation wrought by missionaries who, armed with their unquestioned convictions, informed the Native population that their traditional answers to all the key questions in life were wrong and had been wrong throughout their history as a people. This book is a raw primary source, at once poignant, moving, and revelatory.”
In the spirit of the holidays, we would like to share two short excerpts from the book that reflect on Christmas in Alaska.
George’s Christmas
This excerpt is from an article George wrote for The Alaskan Churchman, “Christmas at Eagle, 1906,” which appeared in the May 1907 issue.
The service for the white people at the town church on Sunday, December 23, 1906, was the commencement of the Christmas festival and our log church was crowded, fully 70 people being present. The offering, which was on behalf of the Christmas supper to be given to the Indians, amounted to the generous sum of $29.
On Christmas Eve the Arctic Brotherhood held its usual Christmas entertainment to which everyone was invited. It is the custom here for friends, when giving a Christmas present, to attach it to the tree to be presented by Santa Claus. As there are not many white women and children in Eagle, it gave me much pleasure on behalf of the Eagle mission to attach a small present to the tree for each of them from the goods sent in last summer by the various branches of the Women’s Auxiliary.
I devoted Christmas Day entirely to the Indians. Church service was held in the morning and all the Indians seemed to feel the spirit of Christmas and had bought themselves ribbons, etc. for the occasion, and although their finery was of a cheap nature yet they looked bright and cheerful. After the service we decorated the Christmas tree, and when finished it looked very nice as so many pretty decorations were sent on its behalf. I am glad to say there was not much sickness here at Christmas, only one old man being too sick to be at the church where the festivities were held. Several of the Eagle ladies had made cakes for the Indians’ supper and these, added to the meat sandwiches, biscuits, oranges, apples, nuts, candy, etc. furnished an excellent supper, which I hardly need tell you was heartily partaken of.
After supper came the chief event of the evening, the distribution of gifts. I was able to give each Indian a useful present from the contents of the Auxiliary boxes. These consisted chiefly of clothing, which was badly needed by the majority of them. It caused me some anxiety as to how to distribute these gifts without showing some partiality, but I think it was successful as they all appeared delighted with what they received. The evening wound up with a few games, after which the Indians dispersed to their various cabins, having spent (what they themselves declare) the best Christmas they ever had.
Alice’s Christmas
This excerpt is taken from Alice’s diary in 1907. This would have been Alice’s first Christmas in Alaska and away from her family.
Tuesday, December 24
No school during the holidays. Monday down to the woods for the Christmas tree. Such a jolly time we had, even though the weather was 10 below. Through three feet of beautiful snow, over hill and down again through the deep valley, two hills did we climb before we found the tree we wanted. How lovely the woods were. The boys and dear old Fido went ahead making us a trail. The winter’s sun lent such beauty to the sky and the mountains, gorgeous colors. Back in my room dear little Anna brought me up some wood shavings for my stove. A line added to Randolph’s letter, and then to bed to dream of?
From my eastern window the moon looked in last eve to say goodnight, while from the north window beams of brightness came streaming in at peep of dawn today to say good morning. Just a few household chores and then with the children over to finish decorating the schoolroom. How festive it looks! So much fun and enthusiasm that I was a bit late for dinner. The children very sweet and dear, but as we twined the decorations round and round, thoughts of other Christmases filled my mind and heart. After tea we all finished our secret gifts, then in the wee small hours of the night while all were sleeping I played Santa.
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