MODULE VII - THE LAST FRONTIER!

HAPPY SEWARD'S DAY!!

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

•   Natural Landscape  

Tundra

 Settlement patterns of Alaska have been a reflection 
of the natural landscape as pioneers initially settled
 along the coast and rivers due to accessibility of the
 waterways. Roads and railroads have been limited because
 of the challenges of building on 
tundra, permafrost, muskeg, and around mountains. 
Settling and traveling in Alaska has been a little more involved than "over the river and through the woods..." 

Wetland

The two pictures at the left are from the same area in Alaska.                                                       
     Permafrost degradation on the Tanana Flats, Jorgenson, et.           

      al., 2001, Climatic Change)

• Distance   

   Settlement patterns have been a reflection of distance due 

Alaska Communities

to the location of Alaska in the world. Russia sold out to America                      

because of the great distance between the two areas. Overall 
settlement in Alaska has been slow going.
   Aircraft made a huge impact on the settlement patterns of Alaska. 
Remote villages now have a better chance of survival as supplies can 
be brought in much quicker and more regular.
   Telecommunication has connected remote settlements to larger towns
 and cities in Alaska making the distance not such an issue as it once was
 when correspondence and medicines had to travel by dog sled, telegraph, 
ship, boat, and aircraft. Telemedicine also provides health care to Alaskans
which sustain remote villages as well as the larger settlements in Alaska. 

• Resources

Steam Laundry by Nicole Stellon O'Donnell

         Settlements were established in the southern part of Alaska due to easy access by ocean. Furs were heavily sought after in the first

settlements. Settlements also developed in the Arctic because of whaling

and an abundance of fishing for salmon influenced settlements in 

southeast Alaska. After America purchased Alaska from Russia, gold

was heavily pursued and settlements moved into western Canada down

to the Interior and east to Nome.  When oil was discovered, the North 

Slope became accessible with small settlements along the Alaska Pipeline.

Steam Laundry is a great read about the 6th woman to live in Fairbanks, AK.

It is written in poetry and covers her life as her family settles in Dawson for gold

and then as things turn in her life, she ends up in Fairbanks, AK running a roadhouse.

Alaska Economic Trends

• ECONOMY

Alaska has a bust or boom economy.  Many settlements                      

have vanished as resources are depleted. Perhaps one could              Alaska TRENDS

say that people of Alaska are nomadic.

The magazine on the right covers economic trends in Alaska.

EXAMINE:

   What role did Sheldon Jackson play in creating an early education system for Alaska?

Collection Name: Alaska Historical Library.
Identifier: PCA 45-346

 Sheldon Jackson was appointed General Agent for Education in 1884 and held the position until 1908. Although there was controversy over his methods, Jackson stretched insufficient funds for education in the territory by working agreements with various religions. (Alaska Heritage)

Times have changed in the amount of funds available for education today from when Sheldon Jackson was involved.

Sheldon Jackson's story.  The vision that this man had changed life for Alaska Natives forever.


EVALUATE:
  Wow! That was fun. Learning how to manipulate the links and images has definitely opened up a whole new world technically for me. I really enjoyed Module VII. There are a few bobbles on the final product. I am not sure how to iron out all of the issues I have just yet. This study of Alaska is helping me see cause and effect. Choices that pioneers of Alaska made years ago affect us today. It is necessary to give thanks to those who have gone before us.  It is because of them,  we are able to enjoy the many, many advantages of living in Alaska today.