A storm like no other: changes that shaped Seward Peninsula communities at the turn of the 20th century

Abstract

Thesis (M.A.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2009

"This thesis explains how four events at the turn of the twentieth century--the start of an American administration, the introduction of schools and missions, the introduction of reindeer, and the 1918 influenza epidemic--brought sweeping changes to Inupiat on the Seward Peninsula, and contributed to the decline of two formerly-prominent Seward Peninsula communities: Kingegan and Kauwerak"--Leaf iii

National Park Service Bering Land Bridge Preserve historic resource study (HRS) grant

1. Introduction -- Prehistoric cultures of the Seward Peninsula -- 2. Kingegan and Kauwerak -- Whalers and American explorers -- The Gilley affair -- 3. U.S. administration and the Seward Peninsula -- 4. Missions and schools on the Seward Peninsula -- Mission schools in Northwest Alaska -- Role of missionaries -- Wales Mission history -- Spread of Christianity on the Seward Peninsula -- New teachers and new missions on the Seward Peninsula -- Bureau of Education's medical services -- Schools after the missionary period -- End of Bureau of Education work in Alaska -- 5. Reindeer on the Seward Peninsula -- Creation of the Alaska Reindeer Service -- "The reindeer are the schoolbooks" -- Influence of Chukchi and Sami herders -- The first Inupiaq herders -- Influence of the Sami -- Moving the reindeer station Eaton -- The overland relief expedition to Barrow -- Fate of the reindeer -- Return voyage -- Impacts of the expedition for herders -- Impacts of the expedition on reindeer herding -- Changes in the Native ownership of deer -- Changes to the reindeer program under Jackson -- Reindeer fairs -- A burgeoning industry -- Following the 1918 flu epidemic -- Reindeer industry in the 1930s -- Major impacts to the reindeer industry following the 1940s -- Influence of herding on Inupiat -- 6. Devastation of the 1918 influenza epidemic -- Influenza reaches Alaska -- Influenza decimates villagees on the southern half of the Seward Peninsula -- Shishmaref and deering saved -- Aftermath -- Effects of the influenza -- 7. Conclusions -- References.