The History of the Alaska Native Brotherhood & Alaska

Native Sisterhood in Southeast Alaska

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Geography of Alaska

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Alaska Native Groups

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The ANB & ANS Began in Sitka, Alaska in 1912

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The Alaska Native Brotherhood Hall was built in 1914 on the waterfront in Sitka. It is now a national historic landmark.

ANB Hall

The Founding Fathers of the Alaska Native Brotherhood

Peter Simpson, Tsimshian Canadian (“Father of ANB”)

Ralph Young, Sitka Chester Worthington, Wrangell James C. Johnson, Klawock Paul Liberty, Sitka Seward Kunz, Juneau Frank Mercer, Juneau Frank Price, Sitka George Field, Klawock Eli Katanook, Angoon James Watson, Juneau William Hobson, Angoon Andrew Wanamaker, Sitka

Rise of the ANB

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ANB & ANS Constitution Preamble

The purpose of this organization shall be to assist and encourage the Native in his advancement f rom his Native state to his place among the cultivated races of the world, to oppose, to discourage, and to overcome the narrow injustices of race prejudice, to commemorate the fi ne qualities of the Native races of North America, to preserve their history, lore, art and virtues, to cultivate the morality, education, commerce, and civil government of Alaska, to improve individual and municipal health and laboring conditions, and to create a true respect in Natives and in other persons with whom they deal f or the letter and spirit of the Declaration I ndependence and the Constitution and laws of the United States.

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The Alaska Native Sisterhood - Promoting Alaska Native

Women’s Rights since 1926Panel Discusses Alaska Native Sisterhood

Elizabeth Peratrovich - Alaska Native Sisterhood Grand President and Civil Rights

Leader

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ANB & ANS Political and Cultural Leaders

William Paul (1885-1977) - An attorney, legislator, and political activist from the Tlingit nation of Southeastern Alaska. He was known as a leader in the Alaska Native Brotherhood.

Elizabeth Peratrovich (1911-1958) - An important Alaska civil rights activist, working on behalf of equality for Alaska Native peoples. She was the single driving force behind the passage of the state's Anti-Discrimination Act of 1945, the first anti-discrimination law in the United States.Dr. Walter Soboleff (1908-2011) - An American Tlingit scholar, elder and religious leader. Soboleff was the first Alaska Native to become an ordained Presbyterian minister.

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The Alaska Federation of Natives

AFN OriginsThe Alaska Federation of Natives was formed in October 1966, when more than 400 Alaska Natives representing 17 Native organizations gathered for a three-day conference to address Alaska Native aboriginal land rights. From 1966 to 1971, AFN worked primarily to achieve passage of a just and fair land settlement. On December 18, 1971 the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) was signed into law.

Alaska Territory & Statehood

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Russian Alaska and its LegacyThe Purchase of Alaska by the U.S. From Russia

(“Seward’s Folly”)Alaska Becomes the 49th State

The Alaska Flag Song

ANB & ANS Cultural Heritage

Legacy

Tlingit Culture & Language

Alaska Native Dancing

Alaska Native Art & Carving

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Current ANB & ANS IssuesSubsistence for Alaska NativesSitka Cultural Center Protest

ANB/ANS Conference &Constitution Changes

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Legacy of ANB & ANS Gained recognition of Native

rights as U.S. citizens. Won the right for Alaska Natives

to vote. Integrated public schools. Helped support the first Alaska

Natives to be elected to the Alaska territorial Legislature.

Helped initiate Tlingit and Haida land claims and later ANCSA.

Helped pass the Native Civil Rights Law in Alaska.

Helped fight for Alaska Native subsistence rights.

Promotes continuing cultural education for Alaska Native children.

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The Importance of Ku’ikKoo.eex (Potlatch) Introduction

In honor of what we’ve learned about ANB, ANS, and the Tlingit culture in this unit we will have a class potluck to share food and present the Bloom Ball projects you’ve created. Everyone will bring a food dish to share and families/community members are invited to join us.