Lilly Endowment Funds Application:
September 18, 1975, letter from Eben Hopson, Mayor, North Slope Borough, to Gordon St. Angelo, senior program officer, Lilly Endowment, Inc.:
“Dear Mr. St. Angelo:
“Thank you for coming all the way to Barrow to talk with us about our plans for an international Eskimo community conference, and thank you for offering to help. Our grant application is enclosed.
“We were surprised that the budget turned out as high as it did. Air travel is very high in the Arctic. As you can see on the air route maps that we enclosed, there are few east-west routes serving our people, something that has inhibited strong community organization among our people in the past.
“What is the next step? I apologize for the time that has elapsed since your visit here. We have been conferring with our people at the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada in Ottawa, and with Greenlandic leaders. And we had to learn about air travel in Canada and Greenland. But we would like to schedule our planning conference sometime in November or December. Can you advise me of the steps that you will be taking, and when?
“This conference will be a success, and we want to look ahead to following up the conference. This follow-up will be Phase III of our project, and we are beginning the planning for this phase by way of preparing materials for use at the conference. I could use any advice you may have for me with this.
“Thank you very much. I look forward to working with you and your staff on this project. I am planning to visit you in Indianapolis, and will advise you of my travel plans. We appreciate your help.”
September 18, 1975, letter from Eben Hopson to Hon. Mike Gravel, United States Senate, Washington D.C.
“Enclosed is a copy of the grant application that we submitted to the Lilly Endowment. I want to thank you for recommending our project to Gordon St. Angelo, and for arranging his visit to Barrow.
“We are hoping that you will be able to attend the First International Inuit Community Conference. would it be possible for you to persuade your friend Mr. Trudeau to attend our conference?
“We will be keeping you informed about the progress of our grant application tat the Lilly Endowment, and of our project planning. We can use all the help we can get, and if you know of someone interested in our project who would like to help, please let me know.
October 22, 1975, excerpt from letter from Pat Corbett, employee of North Slope Borough, to her father, Gordon L. Corbett, Associate Synod Executive, Synods of Alaska and Yukon, United Presbyterian Church USA:
“…Enclosed is information on the First International Inuit Community Conference which is dear to Eben’s heart. I have been asked to request a letter of support from you to the Lilly Endowment, Gordon St. Angelo. St. Angelo is a very active Presbyterian and I believe the foundation was involvement in mainly church activities in the past. A letter from you could possibly be very helpful…”
November 14, 1975: Letter from Gordon L. Corbett, Associate Synod Executive, to Gordon St. Angelo, Senior Program Officer, Lilly Endowment, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana:
“Dear Mr. St. Angelo:
“I have recently seen a copy of a proposal sent to the Lilly Foundation by the North Slope borough of Alaska requesting assistance from the Lilly Endowment for the holding of an International Eskimo community conference.
“I would like to add a personal word of encouragement to you to give favorable consideration for this project. The United Presbyterian Church has had a ministry along the North Slope for about 75 years and has been very much interested in encouraging the self-development of the Eskimo people. Six or seven years ago we made a grant to the Arctic Slope Native Association which was helpful to them in continuing their land claims settlement effort. Two years ago the Regional Corporation there made a gift to our General Assembly returning the original amount which we had advanced to them. This was a completely unsolicited and unexpected return but seemed to me at that time to reflect a very real level of maturity and ability to be appreciative.
“We have continued to support the efforts at the development of self-government and self-determination among the Eskimo people, and I for one have a great deal of respect for the way in which they are going about the very difficult challenges which they face.
“If there are specific questions which I might answer or any ways in which I could help support this project, please feel free to get in touch with me.”