Alaska Reflections

Module V-  American Period: Alaska's Economy

Essential Question

What have been the major components of the Alaska economy during the American Period of 1867 to present?
Westward expansion to the new American frontier in 1867 with more than 30 ships travelling to Sitka in 1867 to seek a new life with hopeful opportunities. The original white settlers came because of military assignments, while others came to establish trade and commerce. The natural resources drew others with visions of vast wealth to be made of fishing, mining, furs, and prospecting.  The US Army and other government department began it's expansion into Alaska in this early period.  It's activities included surveying and establishing economic rule of the waters and resources along the coast. As the Russians left Sitka and the military presence declined, an increased number of fortune seekers arrived and stimulated the economy with the supplies needed to support their new endeavors in the Last Frontier. Providing goods and supplies to the Natives in Southeast Alaska was another source of economic opportunity. 

Miners, Dyea Valley near Skagway, Alaska
Travelling to the Gold Fields

Meanwhile, the vast areas of Alaska to the north were explored through whaling, gold prospecting, and explorers mapping and recording their adventures.  Exploration continued through the river systems into the interior, some with the aide of Native guides. Personal stories of adventure, hardship and success have been recorded and interactions with the Natives provide some history of early contact.  

By 1900, the major waterways and mountain ranges of Alaska were explored and mapped. This attracted the attention of increased number of Americans as well as the US government. 


As the expansion continued, key locations were used for communication and transportation centers.  These were important as support centers to allow people to make the arduous journey and stay clothed, fed, and sheltered.  These communities also provided transportation links that often involved varied travel methods including horseback, wagons, canoes, steam ship, train, dog sled, and foot travel.  I am reminded of the town of Skagway, up Lynn Canal from my home and imagine the late 19th and early 20th century scene as prospectors and entrepreneurs travelled through this route.  I had the pleasure of hiking the Chilkoot pass and recall the hundreds of artifacts dotting the trails edge as evidence of the mass of people passing through on their gold prospecting. 

Trans Alaska Pipeline

Following the gold rush, the population stabilized in the 1910s and jobs were available in fish processing, construction and mining.  Alaska saw a surge again in population during World War II where Alaska had many projects to support the war effort from key bases in Alaska.  Having worked in Yakutat and seeing the enormous runways and hangers are reminders of a past existence.  In the 1970's the oil boom on the North Slope began another population swell.  This "black gold" turned Alaska into one of the nations richest states with it's revenues funding 88% of the state's revenue. 


The population in Alaska grew from 2000 in 1867 to 65,000 in 1910 and then to over 128,000 by 1950. The current population of Alaska is around 722,000.  According to the US Census Bureau, the population in the US has increased in the past ten years by 9.7% while in Alaska the increase has been 13.3%.


As I consider the idea of Alaska continuing to have the status of a colony, the economic past and future could demonstrate this definition with outsiders migrating to establish outposts of opportunity and prosperity.   Alaska continues to offer vast areas of natural resources.  Relatively new opportunities for development include new shipping channels through the Northwest Passage due decreased sea ice that previously preventing passage of ships.  Scientific endeavors in energy development though geothermal, solar, natural gas, wave energy and wind could be on Alaska's horizon. The debate continues of opening ANWR to oil exploration.  Food sources through fish and land based animals  as well as  produce are available to feed a growing global population.  This possibility of resource development invites booms and frenzies as entrepreneurs scramble to gain access to the resources.   Future regulatory and economic efforts combined with Native Rights and environmental science may change the pace and prevent exploitation of culture and the environment. As educators, we certainly play a role in helping students learn of Alaska's past history as a way of hopefully aiding in making more informed and wise decisions in the future.  

Examine Question
What has been, over time, the pattern of development of Alaska's fur trapping, commercial sealing, whaling and fishing?

                Aleut Seal Hunters on Board
Ship with Hunting Equipment,  Alaska, 1898
University of Washington

The industries fur trapping, sealing, whaling and fishing were major economic draws in the American period beginning as early as 1840.  American companies took over Russian fur companies and expanded into the interior.  The Americans had an open trading system and dealt with individuals, which meant increased contact with individual Natives.Trading of western items increased and demand for goods by the Natives such as tobacco, sugar, flour and knives, became common staples.  The Natives were not always reimbursed in a "fair trade" model, with furs demanding a high market price and traded at low amounts.  The Alaska Commercial Company initially dominated the fur scene in Alaska, with other companies joining the market over time.  World War I increased interest and demand in furs in the U.S.  By the 1920's fur bearing animals declined, partially due to over trapping.  Changes in technology, including trap design, aviation, snow mobiles changed the methods and impacted those dependent on income as trappers. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game was established at statehood and regulated the industry, regulating and  protecting the resource. 

Salmon Cannery on Karluk River, Kodiak, Alaska
State of Alaska Guide

Commercial fishing by Americans was active before transfer of the territory from the Russians in the the mid to late 1800's.  Cod was the dominate species pursued due to it's high value for oil.  By the turn of the 19th century, salmon canneries were dominate to meet the demand by Americans for canned salmon.  in 1917, half of the world's canned salmon was produced by 118 canneries in Alaska. Many of the companies were owned by companies from outside of Alaska.  The evolution of trapping methods changed from traps to gill nets and seines-land based methods to those requiring boats and equipment. The canneries demanded a large workforce, hiring recent immigrants from China, the Philippines, Mexico, and Japan.  Technology was introduced to the canning operations, but jobs continued to be in high demand.   Decline in the industry was seen during both World Wars. Fishing expanded to crabbing and halibut and eventually ground fish. Fishing was only second in economic prosperity to the oil industry in Alaska by 1980.  By statehood in 1959, fisheries management was put into  state control, which affected subsistence, fishing methods and harvests.  

Arctic Whaler Trapped in Ice, Early 1900's
VILDA ASL-P48-070

Whale baleen became more profitable the whale oil in 1870's.  Shore whaling operations by the Pacific Steam Company of San Francisco affected impacted the industry.  They imitated the Eskimo shore trapping allowing capture of whales when ships seasonally could not navigate the sea ice.   Eskimos began to work for these shore stations for pay.  Again, technology advancement brings change to the industry with introduction of the steam powered ships, allowing boats to remain on the whaling grounds without dependence on wind power and weather.  Train transportation and distribution of the catch to global markets moved centralized business efforts to San Francisco.  Methods for hunting whales as well as the introduction of factory ships changed the industry.  in 1937, the International Whaling Agreement was signed by the US, even though the only whaling at the time was Eskimo subsistence efforts. Controversies over whaling continued with assertion by the Eskimo Natives that whaling was integral to their culture and way of life, leading to allowances for Native quotas.  Whale hunters turned to walrus, another source of valuable oil. This impacted a major food source of Eskimos.  Fur seals were also hunted through the American Period and again over hunting was evident. Coastal Natives were greatly impacted by the presence of hunting and fishing companies.  The Aleuts organized and asserted their rights as commissions and restrictions became part of the industry.  They were granted citizenship in 1924 along with other Alaska Natives and had early forms of self government in 1934.  Sea otter hunting followed a similar fate of over hunting by the Americans and impacts to the coastal Natives lives.  Restrictions and bans were placed on the resource.  By the 1980's the population began to show recovery in the Gulf of Alaska and the Aleutian Islands. 

The commonalities of resource development in Alaska for sea and land based animals used for food, oils, and fur evolved as American companies took over from the Russians. This rapid expansion often exploited Natives, brought the resources to low numbers, impacted the Native way of life. This was followed by various regulatory and government agencies involvement over time to protect the resource.  The Native response was again a defense of traditional ways of living and the importance of these economic resources as integral to their culture and being.  


Extend
Explore the economic base for Southeast Alaska and share any current issues confronting the local residents. 

Sea Otter, Glacier Bay, Alaska National Park Service

Sea otters continue to make a recovery in Coastal Alaska and evidence of this recovery is visible in Southeast Alaskan waters.  My family summers on an Island in the Inside Passage and discussion of sea otter sightings near our cabin have become a hot topic over the past two summers. Each summer the otters are spotted beyond Glacier Bay and Icy Straight and  advancing into Lynn Canal.  Last summer, rafts of otters were sighted in North Pass, three miles from our cabin. The balance between commercial, subsistence, and sport fishing will be affected by the return of the sea otter, as crab and other shellfish are their main food sources. Native hunting of the otters in this region may develop.  This may be a  smaller economic impact in Southeast Alaska than mining, for example, but I found the links between the history of the Russian fur trade and the return of the otter an example of "history at our doorsteps."  A local article in the Capital City Weekly highlights this issue of the sea otter's return.  

Colleague's Blogs
Robin's well organized blog had some interesting highlights of the numerous languages that some of the Russian immigrants used as they settled in Alaska.  The idea that "language is culture" shows the complexity of what defines culture for these immigrants. 


Chelsey's blog, Alaska Coast,  discussed some of the "loan words" from Russian that are found in the Yup'ik language to describe newly introduced items and foods.  


Found an intriguing comment from Peter Benoit  related to Russian Old Believers in the Mat-su Valley.  I have heard friends talk of living and working in Alaska with this culture and their challenges and rewards make me want to learn more.   


Reflections 
 The content of this module was very interesting and I was able to relate my experiences in Alaska directly with these historical events as I read. I found that the Russian to American period transition  filled with interesting details that could be used in a classroom environment through these digital resources.