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Leo Jackson: Interview Outline: Section 13
What the younger generation should know about Kiana
Tape Reference Number: H2002-09-09
Leo Jackson talks with Bill Schneider, Hazel Apok, and Eileen Devinney in Kiana, Alaska on February 28, 2002. |
Bill Schneider: What are some of the things that you think that the young kids should know about Kiana?
Leo Jackson: Well, a lot of them are drinking, smoking, stealing. In them days we didn't have no VPSO (Village Public Safety Officer), nothing. Only the council, city council. Or a group of men that will straighten you out if you don't. They have to -- to punish you, you have to do something like cutting wood, hauling wood. No jails. They don't take you off to jail.
Hazel Apok: Was there -- did you ever hear of anybody being banished from the community?
Leo Jackson: No.
Hazel Apok: No?
Leo Jackson: Only I've -- only I've heard there was one guy they sent to, what they call, school.
Hazel Apok: Like reform school?
Leo Jackson: Reform school. I guess he was gone 15 years and come back to Kiana, though. Steals too much I hear.
Hazel Apok: And that's something you'd like the kids to know, right, about long time ago?
Leo Jackson: Yeah. They should know about it.
Hazel Apok: Uh-hum. But, I mean, it didn't happen every day that somebody steal or vandalize like it's happening now, huh?
Leo Jackson: I try to tell it to my nephews. I mean, tell them about stealing, but it goes in one ear and go out the other.
Hazel Apok: No respect for property.
Leo Jackson: No.
Hazel Apok: Or people.
Leo Jackson: And my -- my father always tell me not to steal. I always remember -- remember him. I've stolen. Believe me, I've stolen. I thought it was little, little thing when I stole. Right now when I grow up, get this old it's a big thing -- big thing to me. He always tell me to ask to buy it from the person. He always tell me to buy it. Go ahead, keep after him. Keep after him, or the person that have it. If he don't want to sell it, beg him for it. Beg him for it. You let -- let him know you really want it. If he don't give it to you, then you can steal it. So he will know who got it. That's what he used to tell me. I always remember that. I'll never forget it. If you can't get it from him, one way or another, steal it from him, so that the person will know who got it. That's what he used to tell me.
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