Alaska Native Citizenship

The 1867 Treaty of Cession with the Russians did not make Alaskan Natives citizens of the United States.  As the treaty put it, "The uncivilized tribes will be subject to such laws and regulations as the United States may, from time to time, adopt in regard to aboriginal tribes of that country."

In the late 1800s, when the United States began to pay attention to Alaska, the philosophy of dealing with Natives was to encourage them to become part of or assimilate into the white culture. This was to happen primarily through the schools. In 1905, Congress said that there would be one set of schools for "white children and children of mixed blood who lead a civilized life." Alaskan Native children would be in separate schools designed to teach them about "civilized life."  At schools for Alaskan Natives, students were required to speak English and could be severely disciplined for speaking their Native language.

It wasn't until 1915 that the territorial legislature established a means for Natives to become citizens. However, the procedure to become a citizen was complicated and required Alaskan Natives to abandon their Native culture and identity. The Alaska lawmakers said that every Native "who has severed all tribal relationship and adopted the habits of civilized life" could become a citizen. To achieve citizenship, a Native had to be living "separate and apart from any tribe of Indians."

According to the law, a Native was eligible for a certificate of citizenship by going to a local school to be examined by a majority of the teachers on their "total abandonment of any tribal customs or relationship, and the facts regarding the applicant's adoption of the habits of a civilized life." The schools at that time were geared to promote the assimilation of Natives into the white culture, so the teachers seemed the best able to make such judgments. In addition to the teacher's approval of the application, a Native person had to have at least five white citizens who had known the applicant for at least a year and affirm that the prospective citizen had met the requirements of the law. 

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