Final Project

For this project, I chose to focus on the Kenai area. My interest of the area sparked last summer when I lived in Old Town Kenai for a few weeks while taking an integration course.

Timeline:

1791 – Russians establish Redoubt St. Nicholas in midst of Athabascan Dena’ina subsistence community at mouth of Kenai River

The 3rd Russian Fort to be built on the Kenai Peninsula, Redoubt St. Nicholas

1845- Holy Assumption Russian Orthodox Church is permanently established

Holy Assumption Orthodox Church, Church of the Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary

1867- Alaska becomes part of the U.S. and the military establishes Fort Kenay

Fort Kenay in Old Town Kenai

1951- First dirt road is built between Kenai and Anchorage

The Seward Highway today

1912- Wards Cove Packing Company establishes a fish cannery at mouth of Kenai River

Recently remodeled, the cannery is now a popular tourist destination

1957- Oil is discovered at Swanson River near Kenai

Swanson River Oil Fields by Paul Andrew Lawrence

 

Cause-Effect Statements:

1. The discovery of oil at Swanson River in 1957 led to offshore drilling, producing an economic boom and population increase in what is now known as the “Oil Capital of Alaska!”

2. The establishment of the Holy Assumption Russian Orthodox church in 1845 was of tremendous social significance to the area, as it became the education, religious, and judicial center of the community.

3. Wards Cove Packing Company constructed a fish cannery in the mouth of the Kenai River in 1912, which not only processed locally harvested salmon for decades, but has since become a National Historic landmark and community marketplace, visited by tboth ourists and locals.

Module IX-Alaska Governance and Contemporary Issues

Essential Question—Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act 1971 - Discuss two ways that this legislation has impacted Alaska, and two specific ways that it has impacted Alaska Natives.

Signing of ANCSA

In 1971, President Nixon signed ANCSA into law. Alaska Natives gained 43.7 million acres of land and 962.5 million dollars in compensation for surrendering remaining claims. Before the act was passed, the Natives had been protesting and fighting for the land that was historically claimed to be their land. They never received the compensation they felt they deserved. The government proposed projects (AEC & Yukon River damn construction) that would threaten Native food and homes. In response, Native leaders established the first Native organization, the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) to advocate for themselves as well as a newspaper (Tundra Times) to highlight the issues. Federal and state governments finally reached an agreement with the Native people and they outlined terms for the ANCSA settlement.

When oil was discovered in Prudhoe Bay, oil companies needed a pipeline to carry the oil across the state of Alaska to the port of Valdez allowing for easier access to the Lower 48. Establishment of the Alaskan pipeline was a result of the settlement. The oil industry needed to know who owned the land they wanted to build upon. After the settlement, they were able to get a permit to begin construction. The state gets 90% of its general fund from oil and gas royalties. Citizens pay no state income or sales tax and get a cash dividend from the royalty fund.

Meeting about ANCSA in Minto

The Natives received 43.7 million acres of land and $962.5 million in compensation for surrendering land claims. Because the money needed to last forever, regional and village economic development corporations were established (12 regional corporations, 1 out-of state corporation, and over 200 village corporations). Natives choosing to enroll became shareholders in these corporations. Money is invested and profits are given back to shareholders in the form of a dividend.

However, not all natives are shareholders. Author Cathy Brown (Juneau Empire), states in her article "The Next Generation", that the division of power among younger natives has been a very controversial topic among the various corporations. According to Brown, "the question of whether to issue shares to the youngest Natives exemplifies the clash ANCSA created between the Western profit-making value and the traditional priority of sharing."

As discussed by (honorary) Dr. Willie Hensley at the Rural Alaska Honors Institute (RAHI) last July, ANCSA "was a very significant event in Alaska's history. More land went to native Alaskans than in any other native settlement act". While celebrating the 40th anniversary of ANCSA, he stated it was a tremendous asset to the native people of Alaska, but stresses that there have been and will be many pitfalls due to the settlement.

Examine Question—Identify the Alaska Native regional corporation in the area of Alaska where you live. Examine its website and describe its mission and current business ventures.  

Doyon, Limited



The corporation for the interior region is Doyon, Limited (http://www.doyon.com/).

Mission:
Doyon's mission is to continually enhance our position as a financially strong Native corporation in order to promote the economic and social well-being of our shareholders and future shareholders, to strengthen our Native way of life and to protect and enhance our land and resources

Doyon has a great respect for employees and shareholders and their commitment to long-term preservation and prosperity remains their key focus. As the largest private landowner in Alaska, they have more than 12.5 million acres of land. The corporation’s 18,500 shareholders & 13 board members pride themselves in being one of the top ten Alaskan-owned businesses.

Doyon’s business ventures include oil and gas services, government contracting, and tourism. They also receive donations to help fund potlatches, drug & alcohol awareness programs, and other varieties of programs that help support their mission.



Alaska Native Corporations Map

 

Oil & Gas Services: Doyon Drilling, industry leader in arctic drilling, is the largest subsidiary of the group. They operate 7 rigs on the North Slope, some of the most technologically advanced rigs in the world. Other oil field services include providing security to critical infrastructure, catering, housekeeping & maintenance, engineering & consulting, and construction. These wide ranges of services make Doyon an eminent leader in the oil and gas industry.

Government Contracting: Some of these services to the federal government include project management, logistical support, engineering, consulting, IT, utility services, etc.

Tourism: Doyon provides many tourists opportunities at Denali National Park. Kantishna Roadhouse, Denali River Cabins, and the Kantishna Wilderness Trails are available through Doyon. They also offer tours through Doyon/ARAMARK Joint Venture. I, for one, was pretty surprised about this. I have been to Denali many times and never knew that Doyon played such an important role in some of these great accommodations and activities.

Doyon Foundation (a separate non-profit charitable organization by Doyon, Limited) has been very supportive of our school district (YKSD). They have many opportunities available for our students including on the job training programs, internships, scholarships, recognition of achievement, etc. As a counselor, I work with seniors every year to get their applications finalized and submitted. I know they really appreciate the support Doyon has provided them over the years.

Modules I’ve Visited—

The Alaskan Adventure—Lane added a personal touch into his blog. He shares about serving as a member of the Alaska National Guard.

Crossing Alaska—Kristi has an excellent timeline of the Aleutian Campaign. Very clear and concise information.

Investigate Alaska—Betty had great information on how WWII affected her area in Dillingham. Seems to have hit very close to home for her.

Evaluation—

This module was very informative and helpful to me. I have studied a little bit about tribal governments and corporations but much of what I knew was from prior experience in the villages. This was a good opportunity to sit down and read the facts & resources. Now I have a much better idea of how the corporations came to be and how the land was divided up. I definitely learned a lot from this week’s module that will come in handy with the population of students that I serve.

Module VIII--World War II 1939-45: A Turning Point for Alaska

Essential Question-- Explain how Alaska's location was considered 'strategic' during World War II.  What were the war activities/events that supported the perspective of 'strategic' Alaska? 



Alaska World War II Major Military Sites

Alaska’s strategic importance became clear as events unfolded during World War II. It had been noted for over twenty years prior to the Japanese invasion of Pearl Harbor (Explore Alaska Blog). The U.S. government “had been planning the building of a defensive line that would run from Panama to Hawaii to Alaska.”

When Dutch harbor was attacked and the Aleutians were occupied in 1942, the ongoing argument of many historians was reinforced. Even though some believed that Japanese occupation of the Aleutians was a futile effort requiring massive investment in a climate which was unlivable (Garfield: The Thousand Mile War, 1969), the majority of global strategists argued that the best shipping route to Siberia depended on control of Dutch Harbor. Because Lend-Lease was just getting started to Asia, the strategic importance of the Alaska was reinforced.

Building of the Alaska Highway

Alaska's strategic location on a Great Circle route from the west coast of North America to Asia was well-known. Its proximity to the islands of Japan was of great concern to the U.S. as the world watched Japan build up its military and invade China. Well-known expert on air control, Billy Mitchell, said that “whoever holds Alaska will hold the world. I think it’s the most important strategic place in the world.” (Aleutian Islands Campaign, 2012).

Finally, the construction of the "Alaska Highway" through Canada was one of the most extraordinary acts ever achieved at that time. Workers from around the country came to build the ALCAN, in a race against time to protect Alaska and the Lower 48 from the axis powers.



Older Photo of the ALCAN Highway

Examine Question--Describe how the transportation infrastructure of Alaska was impacted during WWII by providing at least two examples.

ALCAN- Because of WWII, we built the Alaska Highway. If we had not been at war, this project may have taken decades to complete. Some indirect benefits included a road system and towns/ developments that would evolve in future years. I enjoyed driving the ALCAN a couple years ago. Though some parts are rather rugged, it was still a beautiful drive.

Airport and Harbor Construction on Adak (Davis Army Airfield)

Ports-Alaska’s port system was significantly developed and enhanced during WWII. Communication and transportation were vital during this time, and as a result, Alaska’s future generations benefitted from a Marine Coastal Highway System.

Airports- Military bases required air support, and advocates such as Billy Mitchell insisted that air superiority and infrastructure in Alaska were vital to its strategic importance. Many airports/fields were used for military tasks/transportation/combat. A few examples specifically used during WWII: Galena Army Airport, Gambell Airfield, Kiska Army Airfield, McGrath Army Airbase, Tanacross Air Base, Elmendorf Field, Davis Army Field, etc. Some have been abandoned; some are still in use today (possibly in a different capacity). This site has more information of the WWII Army Airfields.

Modules I’ve Visited—

Crossing Alaska-- Kristi points out that UAF offers students the opportunity to "explore Alaska" via field experience! I totally agree.

Explore AK-- I loved Tina's section on Alaskan recreation. She points out many different & unique opportunities we have as Alaskans!

Exploring Alaska from the Coast-- It was interesting to read Chelsey's comments on the health services in Scammon Bay. I think it is very interesting that their kids get fluoride treatments. I assumed that all tap water contained fluoride but I guess I was wrong! Very nice blog!

Evaluation—

Learning about WWII in the Lower 48, we never studied much about Alaska’s role. This module was neat to get a glimpse into how important our state really was in the war. It’s also interesting to see the lasting impacts of the war on Alaska, such as the ALCAN Highway.

Module VII: American Period: Society

Essential Question—To what degree is there distinctiveness in the art, literature, science, recreation, and cultural institutions of Alaska? In what way do these contribute to, or reflect, a unique Alaska identity?  

Mt. McKinley (Denali) from the North

Art-There is great distinctiveness in art throughout Alaska. Early art was been categorized in 3 ways, documentary art (people & places), market art (woven baskets, carvings, etc) and landscape art (paintings). Many travelers recorded their visit to Alaska especially those that came up during the Klondike Gold Rush. Construction of the Alaskan Railroad was also another big project that was documented. Some of the Native art that went to markets were carvings, beadwork, dolls, moccasins, sewn skins, etc. Currently, you can still find much of this artwork in local shops or at events. Many Athabascan women and girls still enjoy sewing and beading to a great extent. I did my first beading project when I was visiting the village of Hughes; I made a suncatcher. All of the women and children gathered a couple times a week for sewing nights. It was always a big hit! Landscape painters, as you can imagine, had no problem finding subjects. Mt. McKinley (Denali) still seems to be a favorite among today’s artists. Modern art began after WWII with newly established art departments within colleges.

The Call of the Wild

Literature-To me, literature is an art form as well and has great distinctiveness in Alaska. There has been no shortage of books, magazines, and newspapers published over the last decade. I’ve read several Native biographies from those around the Interior telling about growing up with frigid temperatures, living a subsistence lifestyle. I’ve always found those to be so interesting. It really opens your eyes to how good we have things now. Likewise, many travelers have written about their accounts in Alaska, some fiction and some nonfiction. Some of the most popular writers have been Jack London and Robert Service. After living up here for a couple of years now, I’ve developed a great appreciation for their work.

Alaska Summer Research Academy

Science-Science is all over Alaska. From the formation of the mountains and rivers to the extreme amount of sunlight and darkness, science surrounds Alaska. From the wildlife to the plants to the minerals, there is no way to get around this concept. The Alaska Summer Research Academy at UAF offers wonderful field experiences to give students a real-life glimpse into the scientific realm of the state. No matter what type of science you may be interested in, Alaska serves as a great outdoor laboratory.

Recreation-see “examine question”

Morris Thompson Cultural Center

Cultural Institutions-When I think of cultural institutions, I think of the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage. I have yet to go there but plan to in August during Father Oleksa’s multi-cultural class. I have heard it is a wonderful place to learn about the different languages, cultures, and traditions found around Alaska. I am really looking forward to my visit there. I also think about the Morris Thompson Cultural Center in Fairbanks where they have cultural workshops, daily films, traditional dancing, etc. I’ve been lucky enough to do some pretty extensive travel since I’ve been in Alaska. There are many cultural institutions that showcase what traditions our state is founded upon. Some other great ones I’ve stumbled across and enjoyed were the Kenai Visitors & Cultural Center and the Denali Park Visitors Center.

Examine Question— Describe various forms of recreation in Alaska. Explain whether or not there is a particular Alaska “variant” of these types of recreation.

Alpine Skiier

Alpine (Downhill) Skiing--Anchorage and Girdwood are home to some pretty adventurous ski areas. For a more daring experience, some Alaskans try backcountry or heli-skiing for more untouched powder and spectacular views.

Cross Country Skiing—(classic & skating). XC skiing is more specific to Alaska than alpine skiing. Northern Europe, Canada, and Alaska are very active in this sport because of the large snowfields. In Fairbanks, UAF has a wonderful trail system that’s suited for both skate and classic skiing. I enjoy skate skiing along these routes.

Traditional Snowshoe

Snowshoeing—This sport isn’t specific just to Alaska though it is really neat to see the traditional snowshoes that the Natives use compares to the modern snowshoes. The shoes help you stay on the snow better with less sinking. There are many snowshoe races in Alaska.

Riding snowmachines—This sport is popular in many states with large amounts of snow though people in the lower 48 usually refer to these as snowmobiles. Arctic man is an event specific to Alaska where riders pull skiers or boarders up and down hills in the mountains going anywhere from 70-90 MPH. I’ve never been to Arctic Man but I’ve heard it’s an interesting experience. 



The Last Great Race



Dog mushing—Popular primarily in Alaska, Canada, and Northern Europe. It is the state sport of Alaska. The Iditarod is an event specific to Alaska where mushers start in Willow and ride across the state to the finish line in Nome. Another popular race in Alaska is the Yukon Quest where mushers ride 1000 miles from Fairbanks to Whitehorse. There are many other dog races in Alaska, some state-wide and some smaller community races. In the village I lived in, they had the Minto 90 where mushers rode from Minto to Old Minto and back, two days in a row. This race always draws a good crowd.

Hiking/Backpacking--A favorite summer sport of many Alaskans. From a couple hours to a couple weeks, there are trails all over the state to suit everybody. I have checked out many of the interior trails and plan to do a lot more this summer.

Canoeing/Kayaking—Another favorite summer sport for Alaskans. Like hiking trails, there are many, many places to canoe and kayak. Rivers, lakes, oceans, you name it! The Chena River is a very popular route for us adventurers in Fairbanks.

Fishing—Who doesn’t love fresh salmon or halibut? Fishing is very popular in Alaska whether you go out on your own or with a charter. Salmon, halibut, rockfish, trout, pike, etc. are just a few things you can find in the waters up here. I’m hoping to go out on a charter this summer and fill up my freezer for the winter.



Nushagak Guides



Hunting—Alaskans hunt sheep, bear, moose, wolf, caribou, etc. You can do this on a charter or on your own but make sure you are following the rules and regulations of the Department of Fish and Game.

Other activities—bicycling, skijoring, basketball, rock/ice climbing, camping, Aurora watching, gold mining, animal watching tours/cruises, clam digging, enjoying & participating in the arts. Alaska’s activities are really infinite.

Extend Question—What type of education system(s) are in your area?



Yukon Koyukuk School District



Where I live, Fairbanks North Star Borough is the largest, public K-12 school district in the area. FNSBSD consists of 21 elementary schools, 11 secondary schools and 1 correspondence school. My district, Yukon-Koyukuk, is also based out of Fairbanks. Our district office and correspondence school (Raven) is located in town. However, our 9 (all K-12) village schools are located along the Yukon, Koyukuk and Tanana Rivers encompassing 65,000 square miles of territory. There are a few other (statewide) correspondence schools located in Fairbanks; IDEA (Galena School District), Cyberlynx (Nenana School District), and Chugach Homeschool Extension (Chugach School District). Finally, there are 12 private schools located in our town, many Christian or Catholic based. The majority is PK-12 but a few are elementary or secondary only.

Modules I’ve visited—

Heather's Alaskan Exploration-- Heather has good, thorough reviews of the railroads in Alaska. I, myself, have been on the Alaska railroad and thought it was a beautiful ride. I'm definitely glad that it is around for tourists to enjoy!

Investigate Alaska-- Betty’s overview of the 'near disaster' in Nome this fall really is eye opening. It makes you realize how dependent this state is on our sources of transportation (air, barge, rail).

Alaska-Learning the Culture & Natural History--Christy gave nice insight into her community. I was very surprised to hear that they had over 2000 miles of roads. Very unlike many other communities near Prince of Wales.

Evaluation—

This blog was interesting to me, particularly the part on Alaskan recreation. This last year I’ve been able to try out many new activities (some which have become hobbies). Coming from Georgia, most of these activities are brand new to me considering we normally do not get snow. I’ve never been XC skiing, snowshoeing, or ice skating until I moved up here. Alaska has definitely opened up a lot of doors for me for which I’m much appreciative! I also enjoyed learning about the history of education and how much of an impact the church played in the earlier years. I sure didn’t realize how great of an impact they had on our schools.

Resources--Alaska's Heritage

Module VI- American Period: Transportation & Communication

Essential Question—What are issues facing Alaskans today related to transportation and communication?  

Barge Arriving in Skagway

Having worked in a few rural areas, I’m already aware of some of the issues with transportation in Alaska. Our state is huge—586,000 square miles! Only part of Alaska is accessible by road (some very rugged); the rest is only accessibly by boat or plane. The residents in the remote areas of Alaska rely heavily on airplanes and/or river/ocean barges to get mail, food, heating oil, and other necessary supplies. A couple obvious issues are cost and weather. As you can imagine, the fuel and resources needed for airplanes and boats/ships are very expensive. Despite the high costs, residents in these communities depend on these sources of transportation for their survival.

Warbelows Air Caravan

Weather is also another issue dealing with transportation. Travel by airplane can be very unreliable in the winter. Most planes do not fly when it gets colder than 30 or 40 below zero. Wind, ice and visibility are other factors affecting air travel. In the village I used to live in, we had our mail delivered three times a week via airplane (weather dependent). Because it was such a windy and cold area, we typically did not meet our 3x a week quota. Sometimes we would have two deliveries a week and in cases of extreme weather, we might not have any deliveries in the course of a week. This also means that passenger travel in and out of town (Fairbanks) was limited as well.

Travel by barge can be problematic in cases of excess ice in the oceans (Northern & Western Alaska). We’ve all heard about what happened in Nome this year when the Russian vessel had to be used to break through the ice and deliver heating fuel to the village. That case is an extreme one, one that could have been a life or death matter for those residents. This near disaster was covered heavily by the media.

GCI Logo

Communication in Alaska has increased tremendously. Many remote areas now have telephone and cable/satellite capability. Some areas even have cell phone service through GCI or ACS. Becauseof the transportation issues, our school district communicates heavily though e-mail (internet) or videoconferencing. Each village school in the Yukon-Koyukuk School District is equipped with wireless internet and a VTC system that can be connected instantly. It’s amazing to read about the significant gains in communication from the early 1900’s to now on EXPLORE ALASKA.

Examine Question— How does aviation affect the lives of Alaskans today?

Alaska Air Flight

As I mentioned earlier, aviation in Alaska is a main source of transportation for people, mail and cargo. Passenger travel in and out of the villages is very common and similarly, it is also very common to travel among Alaskan cities/towns. Many Fairbanksians like to travel to Anchorage for good shopping and dining. Some state residents also travel to Juneau when government is in session. Tourists that want to enjoy a more thorough trip to Alaska often travel via airplane to different cities and some even to remote areas on sightseeing tours. One very popular tour that leaves out of Fairbanks is a polar bear viewing trip to Kotzebue. The plane takes them up and drops them off for a weekend adventure. So as so you can see, not only is aviation travel fundamental for Alaskans but for tourists as well.

Wrights Air Caravan

Mail and cargo are also carried in airplanes. Remote village residents receive their mail anywhere from a couple days a week to 6 days a week (depending on size of the village and flight schedules). It’s always interesting to see the crowds of villagers waiting for the planes to arrive. Some of the cargo may include food to supply the local store, building materials, or even recreation items such as snowmachines. One thing that’s for sure, the locals always rush to the store after the supply comes in to get all the freshest foods.

When winter weather hits and airplane travel is hindered, some people struggle to make ends meet. Aviation travel is an extremely vital aspect of Alaskan transportation that impacts all of us in some way or another.

Extend Question—Who are the air carriers in your region (Fairbanks) and what are their history?

AlaskaAir-most well-known passenger carrier in the state; also carries some cargo.

EraAviation-Began in 1948; has flights to many destinations (remote and urban) in Alaska. Both passengers and cargo is carried; charters are available.

Wright Air Service-Al Wright began flying in the 1940’s; airline travels to many interior villages carrying passengers and freight. Charters are available.

Warbelows Air- Many reasons forced them to downsize; they still offer some passenger and freight flights to interior villages, tour packages, and charters.

Some smaller tour companies include: Northern Alaska Air Company, Tanana Air, Frontier Flying Service.

Modules I’ve visited—

Explore Alaska Class--Niki points out how the Natives use every bit of the whales that they hunt. They are the same way in the Interior with moose. They do not waste any part of the animal. Very neat!

The Alaskan Adventure--Lane was very impressed by the Alaska Sealife Center. I also went there and was impressed. It was neat to see numbers, facts, and animals (up-close and personal). Fishing is such a big part of the economy up here-it's really interesting to learn more about the impact it has on the state.

Exploring Alaska from the Coast--Chelsey's blog includes a beautiful picture of Anchorage as a tourist destination. Don't you all feel so honored to live in a place where so many millions of people love to visit every year??

Evaluation—

I really enjoyed reading about transportation in Alaska because my job requires me to travel extensively. It really is an eye opener when you think about how dependent Alaskans are on air and boat travel. This module also reminded me of the near disaster in Nome this year when the ice was too thick to get the heating fuel into the village. It goes to show that transportation is vital for the survival of many Alaskans (especially in remote areas).

Module V-American Period: Alaska's Economy

Essential Question—What have been the major components of the Alaskan economy during the American period of 1867-present?

Alaska’s economy can be explained in three simple ways: oil production, federal spending, and the other category (consisting of mining, timber, fishing, tourism etc). Due to high costs in transportation and infrastructure, diversification of the economy is quite difficult in a state as unique as Alaska. Some hope that the more educated the population, the more ideas will begin to flow on how to reduce the state’s economic dependency.

Alaskan Pipeline

A whopping 80% of Alaska’s general fund revenue comes from oil taxes and PFD investments. As oil production has slowed down, questions arise as to how this will affect the state’s economy. Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge still poses as an option though revenue would not be as plentiful because it is in federal territory.

Tourism has allowed for the creation of many new jobs in the state. On average, Alaska gets over a million tourists per year, mostly in the months from May to September. The most popular tourist attraction continues to be Denali National Park.  However, many tourists venture up to the Arctic Ocean, take boat tours in the Kenai Fjords National Park, take the ferry to the coastal communities, and enjoy flight-seeing tours of the vast wilderness.

Pollack Fishing Net

Commercial fishing continues to play a role in the economy. Though competition from other countries has decreased the market, many millions of pounds of fish and crab are caught and sold every year. Most Alaskans sure do love the taste of fresh salmon and crab legs—I know I do!

Other notable contributions to the Alaskan economy include agriculture, mining, and timber & wood products. The military bases are also a large part of the economy in the largest two cities in Alaska, Fairbanks and Anchorage.

From: Alaska Economy and Resource Development

Examine Question—What is the current status of farming, herding, logging, and tourism in Alaska?

Alaska Grown Logo 

Alaska has a short but intense growing season. There are approximately 500 farms in Alaska mostly in the Matanuska Valley, northeast of Anchorage and the Tanana Valley in the Interior. Leading crops include greenhouse and nursery products, hay, dairy products, potatoes, and cattle and calves. Milk, eggs, and beef cattle are a hot commodity produced in Alaska. However, compared to the rest of the nation, Alaska is ranked at the bottom as far as agricultural production.

More information on Alaskan agriculture here.  

Reindeer Herder Inspects Snowmachine

In 1937, the Reindeer Act restricted reindeer ownership to Native Alaskans. This act is still in place today. With approximately 20,000 reindeer in Western Alaska, there are about 20 herders. The herders belong to the Reindeer Herders Association, a group that provides help in the development of the industry and the improvement of the management of the herds. In Nunivak, St. Paul, Umnak, and other Aleutian Islands as well as a few herds along the road system, there are an additional 10,000 reindeer in the state.

More information about reindeer herding from the Reindeer Research Program at UAF here.

Klawok Timber

Southeast Alaska’s timber industry is at its lowest point in 50 years. If timber supply from federal lands continue to grow and timber sales remain an economic preference, the industry can grow to become sustainable again. In the interior, the industry is small but stable. In Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula, the State timber sale program is focused on recovering as much of their beetle-killed timber as possible.

More on the Alaskan timber industry here.

Orca Breaching

Tourism in Alaska has produced many new jobs around the state, approximately 25,000. Princess Cruises, Holland-America, Alaska Airlines, and Westours are the main corporations involved in the tourism industry in Alaska. In 2003, about 5% of the state’s gross product was due to tourism—bringing in about $1.5 billion. People from all over the world come to enjoy all Alaska has to offer including majestic views, untouched natural beauty, Native culture, etc. I feel honored to live in a place that so many wish to visit!  

From: Alaska Economy and Resource Development

Evaluation—

I found this module very interesting. I have lots of friends that are commercial fisherman so reading about the impact it has on the state really hits close to home. I also have a friend that works for the reindeer research project at UAF. This module gave me a little more insight into what he does and the history of reindeer herding. Likewise, I love reading and hearing about tourism in Alaska. I see lots of tourists every year; I have also had lots of friends and family come visit adding to those numbers! Overall, this module has been one of the most interesting for me.

Blogs I've Visited--  

Brenda's Alaska Blog -- I enjoyed hearing Brenda reminisce on her past experiences in Kodiak. It sounds like she has had some great firsthand knowledge into the Russian culture. Beautiful picture of the church in Kodiak by the way!

Investigate Alaska -- It's really sad to hear Betty point out how unfair the Natives were treated by the Russians. I'm glad it wasn't all of the Russians, however. She did a great job covering this module--very thorough information!

Crossing Alaska -- I really like Kristi's use of visuals in this blog to demonstrate the Russian Colonization of Alaska. Great use of captions as well!