Written by an Eskimo who created all the book's art work, drawings, and illustrations, this narrative portrays the theme that prior to white contact the Eskimos had a complex, satisfying, technologically developed, and progressive culture which was immobilized, fragmented, and exploited by European invaders: hence the title--give or take a century, how much longer must the Native Alaskan wait for the restoration of his rights? The book is by turns autobiographical as it traces the journey of an Eskimo boy and his family from the remnant of Eskimo life of Wales, Alaska, in the 1940's to the acculturated subsistence common to "villagers" of Nome, Alaska, in the 50's and 60's. A chronology of Alaskan Native history details the cataclysmic change in the Native way of life that commenced with the first European contact. In the hope that "studying their arts, one may begin to understand the heart and spirit of a people," a description is given of inventions and contributions to civilization made by the Native Alaskans. A list of Native organizations and a list of people ("Names You Should Know) conclude the work. (BO)