As the 150th anniversary of the Alaska territory’s purchase from Russia approaches and the capital city prepares for a new statue commemorates the deal’s chief U.S. negotiator, historians reflect on William Henry Seward’s impact on Alaska and its indigenous people. For some, he’s a symbol of American imperialism and colonialism.
Culture & Language
Filipinos in Alaska
Filipinos were part of waves of foreign-born laborers coming for the salmon canning industry and mining booms in the early 20th century.
Since the 1990s, the Philippines has been the most common country of origin among Alaska’s foreign-born population, according to the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates Alaska’s Filipino population at more than 26,000, one of the state’s largest ethnic groups.
Prominent Filipino-Alaskans Loy Maturan, Dante Reyes, and Raffy Castanos share their stories and experiences. Hosted by Jeremy Hsieh.
Living the Language
On this Forum@360: Living the Language, Tlingit speakers and educators discuss how to live the language, what does it mean, how can we incorporate language into our homes, into our community, and what are the tools to get us there.
Featured speakers are:
- David Katzeek – Tlingit speaker and clan leader
- Marsha Hotch – University of Alaska Southeast Adjunct Instructor
- Lance Twitchell – University of Alaska Southeast Assistant Professor
- Alice Taff – Linguist
Related article: Preventing language loss: A three-step process