The Alaska Native Brotherhood (ANB) and its counterpart, the Alaska Native Sisterhood (ANS) , are two nonprofit organizations founded to address racism against Alaska Native peoples in Alaska. ANB was formed in 1912 and ANS founded three years later. For the first half of the 20th century, they were the only organizations working for the civil rights of Alaska Natives in the territory and state.
20-589: Alaska Native Brotherhood Hall , or Sitka Camp No. 1 , is significant for being the original chapter of the Alaska Native Brotherhood , an Alaska-wide Native organization. It is located on the waterfront in Sitka, Alaska , on Katlian Street. The two-story building, built in 1914, is of wood-frame construction, and is about 40 feet (12 m) wide and 60 feet (18 m) long. Most of its length extends out over water, supported on pilings. The roof
40-537: A child of white and Alaska Native heritage was denied entrance to the Sitka, Alaska public school. In Ketchikan, Alaska attorney, William Paul ( Tlingit ), won a case allowing children of mixed heritage to attend public school. Despite this win, there were still continued restrictions against Alaska Natives. Public areas like swimming pools, theaters and playgrounds in Alaska were also segregated. Alaska Natives were often forced to abandon their culture. Members of
60-611: A large two-story auditorium, with the stage at the rear (over the water). A narrow gallery, accessed by stairs within the auditorium space, wraps around its rear and side walls. The front of the building has a lobby area on the first floor, and office space for the Brotherhood on the second floor. The Alaska Native Brotherhood was founded in Sitka by Tlingit natives in 1912 as a vehicle to fight discrimination against them in restaurants and movie theaters. The organization, which now has
80-682: A much broader membership across Alaska's many native groups, has been successful in bringing about significant changes for its members, including securing United States citizenship for Alaska natives and passage of the Alaska Historic Preservation Act . The hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 and was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1987. Alaska Native Brotherhood Thirteen Alaska Natives who attended Sheldon Jackson Training School came together in 1912 to form
100-407: Is trimmed at front and back by plain bargeboard with seven unadorned corbel -like supports in the form of triangular struts. Architectural evidence suggests that the building has been altered and enlarged; adding the front quarter of the building and raising the roof to a full two stories probably occurred sometime after its original construction. The interior of the building is mainly taken up by
120-490: The Alaska Native Brotherhood (ANB) staged boycotts of places that segregated whites and Alaska Natives. ANB was successful in some areas of the territory, but many places of business continued to exclude Alaska Natives. Elizabeth Peratrovich (Tlingit), who was vice president of the Alaska Native Sisterhood (ANS), and her husband Roy Peratrovich (Tlingit), president of ANB, wrote to Ernest Gruening ,
140-542: The Great Depression . Elizabeth Peratrovich (Tlingit), member and grand president of the ANS, did organizing, wrote petitions, and testified to the state senate in 1945 for civil rights of Alaska Natives. She helped win passage of the 1945 state anti-discrimination act . As president of ANS she encouraged indigenous women to apply for federal and territorial grants to help their households. Peratrovich also grew
160-694: The ANB during this time. During the 1930s, the Alaska Native Brotherhood obtained at least one Civilian Conservation Corps grant from the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration to restore and preserve totem poles . One $ 24,000 grant enabled work with architect Linn A. Forrest , an American architect of Juneau , to construct the Shakes Island Community House and to preserve totems at Wrangell in 1937–1939 during
180-462: The Alaska Native Brotherhood (ANB). The founders were George Fields, William Hobson, James C. Jackson, Eli Kalanvok, Seward Kunz, Paul Liberty, Frank Mercer, Marie Moon Orsen, Frank Price, James Watson, Chester Worthington, and Ralph Young. Peter Simpson ( Tsimshian ) was the first president of the group and is often known as the "father of the ANB." The original members wanted Alaska Natives to be able to access education and improve their standing in
200-648: The Alaska Native Sisterhood (ANS) was formed by women in Wrangell, Alaska . ANS worked with ANB on civil rights and voting rights issues. Also in 1915, ANB and ANS were able to help pass the Native Citizen Act. In the late 1920s and the 1930s, ANB began to boycott places that had "No Natives" signs. Many of the boycotts in southeastern Alaska were effective. Louis Paul ( Tlingit ) and William Paul (Tlingit) emerged as leaders of
220-402: The community. Alaska was a segregated society at the time. The rights of Alaska Natives to their own land and fishing and hunting grounds had also been lost. The Alaska Native Brotherhood Hall , built in 1914 on the waterfront in Sitka, was the first facility owned by the organization. For the significance of the ANB, the hall has been designated a National Historic Landmark . In 1915,
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#1732776258886240-539: The governor of Alaska, in 1941 and argued that segregation was "very Un-American." Governor Gruening was already upset by the obvious discrimination in the territory. Gruening used his influence to stop segregation in some communities and with individuals he knew. In 1942, Gruening spoke to the Director of the Division of Territories and Island Possessions about preparing an anti-discrimination bill. Gruening's bill
260-968: The history of discrimination in the United States , the Alaska Equal Rights Act of 1945 (also known as the Anti-Discrimination Law of 1945 Alaska Statutes 44.12.065) was the first state or territorial anti-discrimination law enacted in the United States in the 20th century. The law, signed on February 16, 1945, prevents and criminalizes discrimination against individuals in public areas based on race . The law came about after Alaska Natives fought against segregation and other forms of discrimination in Alaska . Prior to 1945 Alaska Natives were subject to segregation and disenfranchisement . The Nelson Act of 1905 created two separate educational systems. In 1908,
280-551: The opposition into a 'defensive whisper.'" The bill was signed by Governor Gruening into law on February 16, 1945. Alaska thus became the first territory or state to end " Jim Crow " since 18 states banned discrimination in public accommodations in the three decades following the Civil War; not until 1955 would two more states, New Mexico and Montana, follow suit. All Alaskans shall be entitled to "full and equal enjoyment" of public areas and businesses. Discriminatory actions in
300-403: The organization by recruiting new members. Amy Hallingstad (Tlingit) helped Peratrovich to integrate schools and advocate for more resources. In 2005, the organization opposed U.S. federal law that makes the collection and ownership of bald eagle feathers illegal, as these have been integral to spiritual and cultural practices of Alaska Natives. Alaska Equal Rights Act of 1945 In
320-450: The state of Alaska are made punishable by a $ 250 fine and up to 30 days in jail. Signs designed to discriminate based on race are banned. The Alaska Equal Rights Act was the first anti-discrimination law passed in the United States. The passage of the law abolished Jim Crow laws in Alaska. The United States Mint commemorated the passage of the law and Elizabeth Peratrovich on the one-dollar coin in 2020. The coin, which marked
340-546: The theater continued to segregate. Between 1943 and 1945, Elizabeth Peratrovich and her husband Roy Peratrovich tirelessly lobbied the Alaska's legislators and worked with Governor Gruening to increase support for the new bill. The anti-discrimination bill was introduced in the House of the Territorial Legislature by Representative Edward Anderson in 1945. Anderson was also the mayor of Nome, Alaska and
360-757: Was "a disgrace to the Democratic form of Government." However, the testimony that has largely been considered decisive in passing the bill came from Elizabeth Peratrovich (Tlingit), who spoke for two hours. In response to territorial senator Allen Shattuck of Juneau, who had earlier asked "Who are these people, barely out of savagery, who want to associate with us whites, with 5,000 years of recorded civilization behind us?," she stated: I would not have expected that I, who am barely out of savagery, would have to remind gentlemen with five thousand years of recorded civilization behind them, of our Bill of Rights . The Daily Alaska Empire printed that her testimony "shamed
380-446: Was given to the Territorial Legislature in 1943, but this version of the bill did not pass. In 1944, Alberta Schenck ( Inupiaq ) protested segregation in a Nome, Alaska movie theater. Schenck sat in a "whites only" section of the theater until the police removed her. Schenck spent the night in jail and the next day, telegraphed Governor Gruening about her experience. Many residents of Nome were infuriated by Schenck's treatment but
400-460: Was upset that Alberta Schenck had been arrested for protesting discrimination in a segregated movie theater. The Senate version was introduced by Schenck's lawyer, Senator O. D. Cochran. Representing the Alaska Native Brotherhood and the Alaska Native Sisterhood , ANB and ANS Grand Presidents Roy and Elizabeth Peratrovich offered their testimony. Roy Peratrovich (Tlingit) argued that discrimination came from "unscrupulous white men" and that it
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