Present Status of Alaskan Eskimos— Lantis 51 



to travel and work in the Arctic. Also, Eskimo material culture 

 was so beautifully adapted to the environment, so functional 

 and artistic that it became an ethnographic showpiece. On Es- 

 kimo social relationships, the anthropologist did not have so 

 much to show off to his colleagues. Now we are perhaps more 

 sophisticated and ready to look at the remainder of Eskimo 

 culture. 



One full study of acculturation has been undertaken, by Doro- 

 thy Thompson at Nome; and M. Lantis has started studies in 

 government administration for Eskimo welfare and in relations 

 of Eskimo culture and personality. Yet again, in these fields 

 little has been published. Two non-anthropologists, Anderson 

 and Eells, in the toco's published a large socio-economic survey 

 of west Alaska; and teachers, physicians, and missionaries have 

 described their villages. 



On the whole, the fullest and best work has been done in pre- 

 history. The product of this work is so rich and exciting that 

 anthropologists should be stimulated to see what they can learn 

 about modern Eskimos as well as their ancestors. Certainly the 

 need is immediate and serious. 



