Civil Rights in Alaska

Ten years before Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Civil Rights movement, Elizabeth Peratrovich of Petersburg, Alaska, fought for civil rights for Alaska Natives.

February 16th in Alaska is “Elizabeth Peratrovich Day.” During Andrew’s Tlingit class on Tuesday we were given a flyer about Elizabeth. Below, I have typed out the flyer text in its entirety.

Martin Luther King Jr. and Elizabeth Peratrovich were both civil rights leader. Elizabeth was 18 years old when Martin Luther King, Jr. was born January 15, 1929. Alaska Natives formed the Alaska Native Brotherhood in 1912 to fight equal rights. Roy Peratrovich was the president of the Alaska Native Brotherhood and Elizabeth was president of the Alaska Native Sisterhood, when they led the efforts to make discrimination of Alaska Natives illegal in the state of Alaska.

Born on July 14, 1911, Elizabeth was raised by her adopted parents, Andrew and Mary Wanamaker. The Wanamakers were Presbyterian Church leader living in Angoon, Alaska. Elizabeth attended school throughout Southeast Alaska and went on to Western Washington College of Education in Bellingham, Washington. She married Roy Peratrovich and they had three children.

When the United States purchases Alaska from the Russia in 1867, they promised that Native Alaskans would have equal citizenship. It did not happen. Natives were treated poorly. Natives were not allowed to go into all stores, restaurants, hotel or schools. Elizabeth Peratrovich began working on passage of a law that would make discrimination against Natives illegal.

Roy and Elizabeth moved to Juneau, and were excited about buying a new home. They were told they couldn’t buy the house they wanted because they were Native. They were very sad and surprised to hear they could not live in some neighborhoods. In Juneau they saw signs that said “No Natives” on restaurants and hotels.

In Sitka, Native children went to separate churches, sat in separate sections in the movie theater and weren’t allowed to attend public schools with non-Native children.

In February 1945, the Alaska Senate was preparing to vote on the Anti-Discrimination Act, which would outlaw discrimination against Alaska Natives. Senator Frank Whaley said, “ I personally would prefer no to have to sit next to these Natives in a theater. Why, they smell bad.” Elizabeth Peratrovich spoke to the Senators about the discrimination she and her family had to face in Juneau. The Anti-Discrimination Act was passed 11-5.

Alaska Native children are able to attend the same school as other children and eat in the same restaurants, because leader like Elizabeth Peratrovich fought for their right. Elizabeth died December 1st, 1958. In 1988, the Alaska Legislature established February 16th as “Elizabeth Peratrovich Day,” which is the anniversary of the signing of the Anti-Discrimination Act.