Module 7

How have the settlement patterns of Alaska been a reflection of the natural landscape, distance, resources, and the economy?

Refugees

The movement of people has always been for a reason.  Very few people move from a location if it provides everything they need.  In the past people moved for more food or a safer location, event today this drives many people to leave.  Commerce drove the Russians to come to Alaska The first non-native populations were located at key economic points such as Kodiak Island. These sites gave them access to a good port, groups of natives that brought furs and resources to provide enough food to require minimal importation of goods.

We the start of the American period populations moved for the same reasons as the Russians, good locations of resources that could earn them a profit. Most of the first settlements were on the coast taking advantage of the plentiful natural resources that came from the water.  Whales and fish drove this early economy.  These towns were wildly spaced apart and dotted the southeast coast. 

Ruby Alaska 1913

The Discovery of gold started the shift of people moving inland.  Towns rose over night in the gold fields. Becoming thriving communities only to be ghost towns in a few years.  The towns that lasted were the ones that provided the supplies and communication points for points farther out.  Towns like Valdez, Homer and Fairbanks grew disputed the dramatically shifting populations.  These anchor cities were able to survive because they had steady employment.  This was also the reason for the growth of Anchorage.  A city created to provide labor on the Alaskan Railroad that ended up lasting due to the need of on going workers after its completion. 

The distribution of population in Alaska has stayed steady since the founding of Anchorage.  The majority of people live in the Southeast region and despite the discovery of oil in the second half of the 20^th Century the population grew but the distribution did not change.  This is because Anchorage has the largest population and so the majority of economic opportunities are there. 

Distribution of population in Alaska

The University of Alaska Fairbanks is the farthest north public university in the United States.  What are the specialized academic areas at UAF that make it unique among American universities?

UAF Logo

I have been very impressed with UAF over the years.  I had my first chance to come visit Alaska and more specifically UAF during college when I was invited to attend a conference of Northwest student leaders.  Coming to visit in November was an adventure compared to the climate of Oregon, but not as much as the students from Hawaii who had never seen snow. The campus was neat with all the tunnels but it was the programs that set it apart. 

Many of these programs I have had the opportunity to work with over the past year as I teach here in Alaska.  The specialties that I have notices are for obvious reasons connected to the arctic.  The Sea Ice program, and Glacier program have made dramatic observations about climate change. Pushing the know boundaries about ice science.  The geophysical institute based at UAF has spent years integrating western science and native cultures into a  curriculum used around the state. 

Besides science UAF has pushed to save native languages and taught culturally sensitive anthropology.  The push to bring in Alaskan natives into school and provide majors that are useful to village life has been important in the past few years.

Sea Ice Program

EXTEND

Are there particular challenges faced by those in your community related to health care? Feel free to share those.

The clinic is behind the red house

As most of you know my town is very small about 60 people and so the health care is limited.  Being off of the road system and no regular flights has further complicated regular health care.  

Our community is serviced by a clinic run by the local corporation.  Full time we have a nursing assistant who can dispense basic medicines and patch minor injuries.  They also help with diagnosing anything that needs to be seen by someone more skilled.  We have a doctor fly in and stay for about 3-5 days once a month and nurses twice a month.  Most care requires people to be flown out to the hospital in Anchorage and so medical charters are common.

This system has been difficult for me since my son has health issues and requires possible access to a hospital at a lot quicker notice that can usually be provided.  Emergency fights are done by the Coast Guard if the weather is bad but even then they can be hindered. The limited availability of medical care has forced be to not renew my teaching contract for next year so that we can be closer to the larger population areas.

Other Blogs

Peter's Alaska Blog was spot on in his discussion of media and Alaska.  While I don't think I ever saw Northern Lights I agree with his point on Alaska as a starting over point.  I myself moved up to Alaska looking for a job.  The idea of a new place also dove me.  Not sure if it was the Simpsons that pushed me or not, could be.

Exploring Alaska's cultures was good this week.  I like the part of Alaska in children's story books and I did not realize how often it is referenced even in ones not written by Alaskan writers.

Holly Explores Alaska: First off love the font finally one that I can read without having to move the laptop closer.  It was interesting reading about the Ft. Knox Mine.  I did not know about it until your blog.  While it does bring up environmental issues the economic impact is undeniable.

Reflection

This unit was a quick read and was very interesting to read why people settled in what location.  I was surprised to see how many mistakes in the dates and over all editing of the population and settlement reading (not in your blog the linked article).  I am a date person and they were off by a century and kept messing with my head.   "In the years between 1967 and the Klondike gold rush of 1898 when thousands of people surged to Alaska, a few new settlements were founded."   Nothing to major, I know that I am guilty of it many times over and over and over.  I am looking forward to next weeks module about WWII.