When I lived in Western Alaska, the influence of the early Russian
Occupation of Alaska could still be seen and felt. There were a lot of
things the Eskimo people did that reflected that influence, and it's
still there to this day, though fading.

BTW, the Native Alaskans - ie those whose history and blood lines go
back a few thousand years - like other Native American groups, have
their problems. But among the Eskimo people I knew and worked with,
there were some mighty fine folks, some of the best.

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver

George Goff wrote:

>In a message dated 2/2/04 12:18:26 AM, jh_rodgers@bellsouth.net writes:
>
><< Gussuk (smacks of Cossacks- does it not) >>
>
>John,
>
>Thanks.  When I was young, my grandmother (Lord have Mercy) lead me to
>believe the appropriate term for Cossack was Bastard!!! followed by spitting on the
>ground.  Apparently, when she was a girl, Cossocks were used as some type of
>military police in her village.
>
>George
>
>
>