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COUNTRY WOMEN IN ALASKA Editor’s Note: We find that Ontario women are keenly interested 111 news of what countlrc'iu women are doing in other parts o_)f the wor . Here we have a story from Canada 3 very close neighboring country. AlaSkfl- ERE IS the largest Peninsula in the H North American continent (5351400 square miles). The United States bought it from Russia in 1367â€"at less than tWO cents an acre! In 1912 Alaska became an “inâ€" corporated territory" of the U. S. A. with a delegate sitting in the House of Representaâ€" tives in Washington. BY 1913 the Women Of Alaska were votinggseven years before the Constitutional Amendment gave enfranchise- ment to women in other States of the Union. The population consists of 98,808 white Americans, 14.089 Indians, 15,882 Eskimos and about 300 Aleuts. Twenty five years ago few Alaskans knew what a Home Demonstration Club was. Today, by following methods used in the other states in the U. S. A. the programme for women in Alaska has grown from an early Institute type of instruction in sewing and cooking to organ- ised club work with programmes based on beat needs, and taught by project leaders, trained by Extension Agents. Now Homeâ€" makers' Clubs are active in 75 neighbourhoods, with a membership of more than a thousand women. They offer the women of Alaska a circle of friendly neighbours, a united group to carry out community improvements, and training for civic leadership and effective citi- zenship. Moreover, this State, far away in a harsh climate. is a keen supporter of A.C.W.W. and gives practical help to women and children in other parts of the world. An international project of which one Homemaker’s Club is justly proud, is the sponsoring of a Greek baby. through the “Save the Children Federa- tion". Their particular infant was "without a father and his mother was hard~pressed until she was able to find work as a governess”. During that time packages from this small Alaskan Home-maker’s Club “kept the baby clothed and fed and sustained the Mother’s confidence in mankind". The members receiv- ed grateful letters â€" and photographs of the baby! In addition they sewed layettes for the general use of the Federation and their yearly fair booth display was based on the ‘Save the Childrcn' theme. In Alaska there are still many more men than women, So in 1948 When one of the Homemakers‘ Clubs was being organised, some of the bachelors. who formed a large part of the population, thought that they too should be considered as homomakers! They attended some of the meetings and one bachelor cooked 28 a luncheon for the club at his home. Lite M; not easy where this particular club was form: ed. These who lived north of the rixul to cross by wading; balancing on a luau“: ,. by a carriage suspended from a cable striking across the river”, in winter they cm; Ed Mn the ice. A bridge has since been built 4;; club continues to flourish, three Chartw W61, bers still being active in the work, {HIM making efforts for the community i1. -. ‘ cluded raising $200 to build a school ‘ two ‘home talent shows’. An annual m which the whole community joins, is l' fish fry, on the beach. And how the women long for summo 1956 Spring Newsletter says: “All women, rural, or not, probably ha‘ 7 experiencing ‘cabin fever’ or ‘mhi um blues’. Their council president acla. positive attitude could cure us" â€" a; “We dread spring in a way, with all tn m but wishing for summer won’t make :‘ 5g. use these months constructively to c: lip on all the things you put off the resl rm. year. Work with your children and tear . .im the dignity of labour and the joy in C ness." As we have already seen, "joining" 1’ not always be easy in Alaska and transpo ‘i-u remains a difficulty. Their Newslettc: ., every incoming Club president or we leader could attend the Council all Courses”. But the advent of televis '. proved most useful, several clubs havin. l n programmes arranged by the Council. it‘ll have shown other members how to 3 int their own projects. Must of the Iectur all demonstrations cover familiar ground. w.- to iron a man’s shirt rapidly” has lll'i ail appeal wherever shirts are worn, but in i;- to teach how to butcher moose do i .1 more specialised interest! Most unique is the Kotzebue Mother- iii The women meet once a week to do Ski. v.7 mg, chew mukluk soles, twist sinew a 11m muskrat skins. They have 57 membt rm tin-j ..i» 5‘4 luEh 'zl, in Jun. it‘ll in him ’Sl‘ll less . . . These wonderful women 2115; AW foster homes to small children from or: in: villages whose mothers are in TE sanato "n: Four mothers a week are appointed to s: 23' the families of those at home recuperatir in: getting proper food and that their k Hw‘ are clean and mended.“ A bake sale at a; 'zrr Alaskan Club raised money for “a i :1)’ whose husband and father was dyli 0f leukemia.” Many Alaska members are active in '3‘” sponsorships of 4-H clubs. One branch ‘ili'h had organised a sewing club paid the rat “3d fare for one of the 4-H girls to and“ m ‘Roundâ€"Up‘ at the State UniversitY- HOME AND COUNIRY