Alaska and Its Indigenous History

Alaska and Its Indigenous History

Why in News Alaska and Its Indigenous History? 

Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump are set to meet in Alaska on 15 August 2025. The location adds historical curiosity as Alaska was once part of Russia. This meeting draws global attention for its rare setting.

Early Indigenous Cultures of Alaska

• Alaska’s history begins long before foreign ships appeared on its shores. The land was home to many Indigenous communities whose traditions and way of life developed over thousands of years. 
• Archaeological studies suggest human presence in the region as early as 14,000 years ago, when groups migrated from northeast Asia through the Bering Land Bridge. 
• The Indigenous population of Alaska included many distinct groups such as the Inupiat and Yup’ik in the Arctic and sub-Arctic areas, the Athabascans in the interior, and the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian in the southeast coastal regions. Each group developed its own language, art, and governance systems.
• The Inupiat and Yup’ik people depended on whale, seal, and walrus hunting, while interior Athabascans hunted moose, caribou, and small game. Fishing for salmon and preserving it for winter was common across many groups.
• Indigenous groups in Alaska maintained active trade networks long before European contact. Coastal communities exchanged fish, oil, and sea products for furs, copper, and inland goods from the Athabascans.

Russian Exploration and Settlement in Alaska

• First Contact: The story of Russian exploration in Alaska began in the 18th century when traders and explorers sailed east across the Bering Sea. In 1741, the expedition led by Vitus Bering and Alexei Chirikov reached the Alaskan coast. They recorded sightings of rich wildlife and abundant resources. These early reports sparked interest among Russian merchants and hunters who saw Alaska as a valuable frontier.

• Trade and Economic Motives: Russian involvement in Alaska grew rapidly due to the demand for sea otter pelts, which were highly prized in China. Traders traveled from Siberian ports to establish hunting grounds along the Alaskan coastline. The fur trade became the main reason for Russian presence in the region during the late 1700s. The wealth generated from fur sales helped fund further expeditions into the interior and along the coast.

• Establishment of Permanent Settlements: In 1784, merchant Grigory Shelikhov established the first lasting Russian settlement in Alaska on Kodiak Island. This settlement served as a trading hub and base for further expansion. Over time, other posts were built, including Novo-Arkhangelsk (now Sitka), which became the capital of Russian America in 1808. Russian settlers introduced new building techniques, brought Orthodox Christian missions, and established administrative control over the fur trade.

• Governance of Russian America: In 1799, the Russian government granted the Russian-American Company a monopoly over trade and administration in Alaska. This company acted as both a commercial enterprise and a governing authority. It organized hunting expeditions, regulated settlements, and maintained relations with Indigenous groups. The company also sought to expand influence into the Pacific Northwest but faced challenges. 

The Alaska Purchase of 1867

• Background: By the mid-19th century, Russia faced difficulties in maintaining its distant Alaskan territory. The fur trade, which had been the main source of income, was in decline due to overhunting. The Crimean War (1853–1856) had weakened Russia’s finances and military strength. Alaska was far from the Russian capital, and defending it against growing British and American influence in the Pacific was expensive. Russian leaders feared losing the territory to Britain without compensation if a future conflict occurred. They decided that selling Alaska to the United States would be a strategic choice.

• Negotiations: Formal discussions about the sale began in the early 1860s. Russia’s minister to the United States, Eduard de Stoeckl, played a key role in initiating talks. In 1867, serious negotiations took place between de Stoeckl and US Secretary of State William H. Seward. Both sides saw potential benefits. Russia could gain funds for other priorities, while the United States could expand its territory and secure valuable resources. The two parties agreed on a price of $7.2 million, which was a significant sum at the time but equal to only about two cents per acre.

• Signing the Treaty: On March 30, 1867, the United States and Russia signed the treaty of purchase in Washington, D.C. The agreement transferred all Russian rights to Alaska to the United States. The payment was made in gold. The treaty described Alaska’s boundaries in detail, covering more than 586,000 square miles of land. The document was approved by the US Senate on April 9, 1867, with a vote of 37 to 2. 

• Transfer Ceremony: On 18 October 1867, a formal handover took place in Sitka, which served as the capital of Russian America. Russian and American troops stood in formation as the Russian flag was lowered and the American flag was raised. This occasion marked Alaska’s official entry into US territory and represented a peaceful and orderly transfer of control.

Alaska’s Role in American Expansion

• Expansion: After the purchase in 1867, Alaska became part of the United States’ broader goal of expanding its influence across the Pacific. 

• • • In the first decades after the purchase, Alaska’s development was slow. The territory was under military rule until 1884, when the First Organic Act gave it a civil government. 
    • Alaska’s economy began to grow as people discovered its vast natural wealth. By the early 20th century, these industries helped integrate Alaska into the national economy.
    • On January 3, 1959, Alaska officially became the 49th state of the United States. 
  • Alaska Gold Rush: A major turning point came in the late 1890s with the gold discoveries in the Yukon and later in Alaska itself. The Klondike Gold Rush of 1896 drew thousands of fortune seekers through Alaska on their way to Canada’s Yukon Territory. Towns like Skagway and Dyea became busy entry points for miners. Soon after, gold was found in Nome in 1898, leading to another wave of migration. These gold rushes brought rapid population growth, new businesses, and improved transportation. They also attracted national attention.

• Strategic Role: Alaska’s importance grew further during the 20th century, especially in wartime. During World War II, the territory became a critical base for defending North America from possible attacks across the Pacific. 

• Alaska’s location also made it a key site for military air routes between North America and Asia. 
• It strengthened the US position in the North Pacific and gave access to valuable natural resources. 
• Its location between Asia and North America also offered strategic advantages for trade and military planning.