Alaska Alive Timeline

By shporter

  • Explorer Vitus Bering discovers the Bering Strait

  • Vitus Bering "discovers" Alaska

    Along with George Stellar he brings Russian migrants to Alaska in search of animal furs.

  • The first Russian settlement in Alaska was built on Kodiak Island

    Three Saints Bay

  • Captain James Cook arrives in Alaska

    Establishes a British presence.

  • John Veniaminov begins his work in Sitka, Alaska.

    Built bilingual schools, supported Native languages, built Saint Michael's Cathedral in Sitka. (Orthodox)

  • The United States purchased Alaska from Russia

    Seward's Folly

  • 1870's - Gold is discovered in the Klondike Region

    Brings a new wave of people to Alaska from the lower 48.

  • Sheldon Jackson founded a mission in Wrangell

    His goal was to educate Native children and help mediate clashes between white and Native cultures. Supported English only learning. (Presbyterian)

  • First Organic Act

    Brought Civil government and public education to Alaska

  • Klondike Gold Rush

    1897 - 1899

  • The Nelson Act

    Established two separate education systems—one for Alaska Native students under the federal government/Bureau of Indian Affairs and the other for “white children and children of mixed blood who lead a civilized life” under the territorial government.

  • Alaska becomes a US territory

    Alaska creates it's own legislature.

  • US Government closes the Orthodox Church school on St. Paul Island

    Viewed as a government sponsored campaign against Orthodox and Native culture in Alaska.

  • The Snyder Act

    Also known as the Indian Citizenship Act.
    Granted U.S. citizenship to "all noncitizen Indians born within the United States" without terminating their tribal rights.

  • The Meriam Report

    Requested by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Hubert Work - Described the social and economic state of the American Indians across the United States. It found the boarding schools provided for Native American children to be inadequate.

  • Johnson O'Malley Act

    Provided Federal funding for Native students

  • Alaska becomes a State

  • Office of Economic Opportunity was created

    Provided Headstart and Community Action Programs that many Alaska Native people and villages participated in.

  • 9.2 magnitude earthquake hits southern Alaska

  • Elementary and Secondary Education Act

    Designed to meet the needs of children in low-income families, and provide extra help to public school districts enrolling American Indian and Alaska Native children.

  • The Civil Rights Act of 1968

    Included five parts dealing specifically with Native Americans. Several parts of Title VII Bilingual Education legislation had implications for many American Indian and Alaska Native students.

  • Oil was discovered on the North Slope of Alaska

  • Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act

    Provided the State of Alaska with a significant amount of money, and provided Native people with power and economic status they had not previously held.

  • The Alaska State Operated School System became an Independent Agency

    Responsible for rural schools.

  • Indian Education Act was passed

    Aimed to meet the needs of American Indians and Alaska Native students in public schools.

  • Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act

    Provided increased opportunities for local control over all or part of the Indian programs conducted by the federal Department of the Interior.

  • 21 separate rural school districts were created

    (Regional Educational Attendance Areas (REAAs))
    This was a decentralization effort. Each REAA assumed responsibility for educating the children in their regional areas. They each established their own locally elected school board, superintendent, and are directly involved in budgets, hiring, curriculum development and assessment.

  • Tobeluk v. Lind Case

    The state of Alaska agreed that it would establish a high school program in every community in Alaska where there was an elementary school. There are over 120 small high schools in Alaska villages today.

  • Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline was built

  • Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) is passed

    Created the massive public lands system in Alaska with over 100 million acres set aside for preservation and protection.

  • The Alaska Federation of Natives releases the AFN Report

    A report on the status of Alaska Natives and a Call for Action. The report found that Alaska Native students are testing well below the National average.

  • Exon Valdez Oil Spill

    11 million gallons of crude oil was spilled along 1,500 miles of coastline

  • The State Board of Education passes regulations for local schools

    Required them to teach English, math, science, geography, history, government, citizenship, fine arts, technology, work languages, and skills for a healthy life.

  • Alaska has 128,00 K-12 students attending 54 school districts

    229 Alaska Native tribes are recognized by the Federal Government