Alaska Network for Understanding American History

Multiculturalism and Diversity in American History

• Joan (Jo) Antonson, Alaska State Historian

• Introductions

• Please ask questions!

Race, ethnicity, national origin, gender

• Alaska Natives• Asians• Mexicans• Black Americans• European ethnic groups• Religious minorities• Women

Agents of change

Violent encounters

Disease, change of diet

• Natives prior to European contact (1741) were in contact with people different from themselves– All groups thought of themselves as the “real

people”– All groups knew of others different from themselves– All engaged in war and trading with others– All groups had a form of slavery (not necessarily life-

long or hereditary)

Russians, 1741-1867

Treatment of Native people “God is high and the tsar is far away”Declared citizens 1763

Creoles (Russian father, Native mother)Russians acknowledged responsibility

Created special class for them Saw as source of labor

Introduced Russian OrthodoxyChristian religion / Alaska Natives spiritual worlds involved

animalsPatrilineal

People of other European nationalities in Russian AmericaParticularly officers in the NavyBaltic Germans and Finns (Lutherans)Americans (shipbuilding, traders)

Americans, 1867-present

Whalers, traders, fishermen

Treaty of Purchase– “uncivilized tribes”– not clear, but apparently considered Creoles to be

Russians, if stayed could become U.S. citizens in 3 years

Fur tradersMany married Native women (common law) for trading network, Russians had done the same, but Americans would trade with anyone whereas Russians usually designated a “toyon” Mayo, McQuesten, Harper on Yukon, Lowell at Seward

ProspectorsPartnerships, frequently traveled with Native guide(s)Natives frequently guided to goldOn Yukon, question of whether Natives (now including Russian Creoles) could

legally stake mining claims since they were not citizens – Pitka & CheroskyAt Nome, same question asked by Americans about European immigrants – 3

“Lucky Swedes” and Pioneer Mining Company

ExplorersNative guides and packersAllen expedition – 1885Ethnocentrism of reportsChief Sesui / Lt. Herron (J.H. Castner another)

For discussion What differences are there in the accounts of finding the Herron party? Does it matter?

What does the article suggest about Native-White interactions?

What does the article suggest about how each group viewed the other?

MissionariesProbably the most ethnocentrist More than others, came with intent to stay, intent to interact with the Native people, and intent to change the people

Government agentsSignificant because introduced land ownership and judicial ideas and practices

Testimony of Kah-du-shan

Segregated education

• Organic Act of 1884 – schools for Natives and non-Natives (Bureau of Education, Alaska unit)– Initially day schools– Cooperation with missions, 1884-1906– Moved to Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1932

• Civil Code of 1900 – incorporated towns establish public school system

• Nelson Act of 1905 – provided for schools for non-Natives not in incorporated areas, reinforced when Territory of Alaska took over this responsibility in 1915

• Mission schools (boarding schools, particularly after epidemics)

Women teachers became more accepted as public education expanded (Massachusetts was the first state to establish a public school system in 1836). Many say the teacher contracts required the female teachers to be single women. The written record does not bear this out, and there are many examples of single and married women teachers. The same is true for nurses.

Many women operated businesses, owned and worked mining claims.

Citizenship and enfranchisement

Women were citizens, but not given rightsAlaska Territorial Legislature Bill No. 2 (but 1st passed in 1913) gave women right to vote in territoryU.S. adopted 18th amendment giving women right to vote in 1918Women did not serve on juries in Alaska until the Territorial Legislature passed a bill in 1924

Alaska Natives citizens and enfranchised in 1915 – with restrictionsOf interest, it was Territorial Bill No. 2

U.S. Government does not declare Indians citizens until 1924

It is easy to see the difference in the two bills. How do you think the Alaska Natives reacted?

An Alaska Native, William Paul, was elected to the Territorial Legislature in 1924. The first woman, Nell Scott, was not elected to the Territorial Legislator until 1936. What might account for this?

“Jim Crow in Alaska: The Passage of the Alaska Equal Rights Act of 1945,” Terrence Cole

For discussion:What incidents influenced Alaska territorial legislators to pass a

nondiscrimination act in 1945?What individuals and groups found to get Alaska legislators to

take action?Why do you think the Territory of Alaska passed an act almost 20

years before the federal government passed an equal rights act?

Historians have searched for a photo that shows a “no Natives allowed” sign in a store window. What has been found is a photo showing a sign advertising “all white help.” Although it might seem minor, explain why this is troubling to historians.

Cannery workers

The first salmon canneries were established in Southeast Alaska in 1878. Soon they were being established in southcentral Alaska, particularly on Kodiak Island, and by the mid-1880s in Southwest Alaska, particularly in Bristol Bay. The canneries were quickly consolidated. Unregulated and virtually untaxed, by 1890 regulation was needed to protect the resource.

Initially, Native workers were hired, and some continued to be, but most canneries started bringing crews from West Coast ports. First Chinese, then Mexicans, then Japanese, and then Fillipinos. All were referred to as the “China crews” and segregated at the canneries.

Some of the workers stayed after the season, and lived in different communities. Some were prospectors and miners, others restaurant owners and tailors.

When World War II started, the Japanese in Alaska were sent to internment camps in the western U.S.

Blacks, Alaska Natives, Women in World War II Alaska

The Territory of Alaska created the Alaska Scouts, separate and distinct from the Alaska Territorial Guard

General Simon B. Buckner did not allow Native women in the USO clubs, argued against black troops working on construction of the Alaska Highway on the Alaska section (though was unsuccessful)

When black units were assigned to posts in the Aleutians they had separate areas

Women were assigned, late in the war, to posts almost exclusively as nurses

Census data

Until 1920, more than 50% of Alaska’s population was Alaska Native; in 2000 census they were about 18% of population overall—though more than 65% outside urban areas

Until 1960, the black American population in Alaska was .3%, today it is 5%; the same for the Asian American population in Alaska

The 2010 census is expected to show increases in the percent of the population for each minority group in Alaska, with notable population counts of Hispanics and Pacific Islanders

Educators, politicians, and many others talk about American history as “our history.”

Many don’t see it that way. How would you approach getting students to see

Alaska’s history as a “shared experience”? As “their history” that they need to study?

[websites]Statewide Library Electronic Doorway (SLED)

Next week

The major issue in Alaska regarding race is Alaska Native land claims and subsistence rights.

--Legislation acknowledging Native claims and rights--Land provisions to protect traditional lifestyle and to

provide for participation in corporate America in the ANCSA

--Rural preference, not Native preference in ANILCA--Migration of Alaska Natives to urban areas /regional

centers