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Barbara Johnson, Part 1 |
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| KAREN: And when you first started as a health aide in Angoon, you said there wasn't a clinic. BARBARA: No. KAREN: Did you have -- how did you reach the doctors in Sitka? BARBARA: We -- we used a radio from the store. The store had a VHF radio. KAREN: Wow. BARBARA: And we'd have to call the doctor at a certain time, let him know about this person or that person or, you know, if there's an accident or something, we'd call on the radio to the doctor. KAREN: Do you remember when -- BARBARA: So we would have to say "over," you know. KAREN: Did you worry about confidentiality? BARBARA: Yeah, I did. You know. But what could you do, you know, because if you turn on a radio, you can hear all that on the radio. KAREN: Yeah. BARBARA: You know, a regular radio. KAREN: Yeah. BARBARA: So we used to have to be really careful about what we say. You know. Of course, the village, they know everything. But, you know, it's not through us they would learn that. KAREN: Yeah. BARBARA: But we'd have to be real careful in how we talked to the doctor, you know, about things happening. So. Yeah, we had to use a radio. When I was working in the cannery, I still worked as a health aide, too, you know, and the cannery, the office would let me use the radio at a certain time. KAREN: Oh. So you did both, you were a cannery worker -- BARBARA: Uh-hum. KAREN: -- and an unpaid health aide? BARBARA: Uh-hum. Well, actually, I got paid like 189 a month. KAREN: Oh. That's not bad. BARBARA: Yeah. KAREN: When did you move to Angoon again? BARBARA: Gosh, that was in 1960. Around there. 1959 or 1960. Yeah. KAREN: So yeah, but it didn't become the Health Aide Program until -- BARBARA: '68. KAREN: Yeah. BARBARA: I worked two years -- well, actually, I won't say work, but I volunteered like two years, though, before that, to just help people. You know. Somebody had an accident or something, we'd call the doctor and let them know. And we'd help the patient. KAREN: So was the first time you got paid was in 1968? PAULA: Uh-hum (affirmative). KAREN: Yeah. When it became an official program? BARBARA: Uh-hum. KAREN: Yeah. | |
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Last updated 11-4-06
Last updated 11-4-06