By Zachary R. Jones, Archivist
Title: Indigenous-State Relations in Alaska and Beyond Tlingit Oral Histories, 2009-2011
ID: MS/019
Creator: Thornton, Thomas
Extent: 1.0 Boxes
Date Acquired: 00/00/2009
This collection contains typescripts from oral history interviews conducted in 2009 and 2011 with Tlingit Native American Indian elders on the subjects of Native and state religions in Alaska and leadership roles during the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971. The 2009 interviews were conducted by Prof. Thomas Thornton on March 27, 2009 in Juneau at the Sealaska Building as part of a National Science Foundation project entitled “Indigenous-State Relations in Alaska and Beyond: Sustainable Livelihoods, Biocultural Diversity and Health since the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA).” Thornton interviewed two Tlingit elders, Marlene Johnson and Harvey Martin. The 2011 interviews were conducted by SHI Intern Elsie Ebner.
The 2009 interviews have been transcribed and are approximately 20 to 30 pages each and discuss Tlingit and state of Alaska relations over time. Both Martin and Johnson have been involved in the Sealaska Corporation and Heritage Institute, the Central Council of Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, as well as the Alaska Native Brotherhood and Sisterhood which have been involved in Native and state of Alaska issues. The 2011 interviews mostly remain in recording format, on Mini Digital Videocassettes, though two interviews have been transcribed, those with Ethel Lund and Marlene Johnson.
The 2009 interviews were transcribed from the original audio by Sealaska Heritage Institute staff member Rick Huteson in July 2009, the 2011 by Elsie Ebner.
Acquisition Source: Thomas Thornton
Acquisition Method: The 2009 material in the collection was donated to SHI at the request of the interviewees and at the direction of the research project’s instruction over the course of 2009. Accession number 2009.006. The 2011 materials were also donated to SHI per the same agreement in 2011.
