THE STRUGGLE FOR ALASKA

The Battle of Sitka (1804) is often overlooked in North American history. It unfolded between unique wooden-armored Native Americans and Russian-American Company (RAC) fur traders, sailors, and native allies. Fortunately, several very informative first-hand accounts were recorded both by Russian and Tlingit participants, so we have sources from both sides. The Tlingit (pronounced Klinck-it) were settled in the rocky densely forested southeastern Alaska coastline when the Russians arrived. They were a network of tribes with a powerful warrior culture and were skilled hunters, fishmen, handicraftsmen, and traders. The Tlingits possessed a strong seafaring culture and carved boats (called Yaaku) out of single logs that could carry as many as 30-60 warriors to distances of 150-200 miles a day! The Americans and Europeans frequently traded with these Natives and supplied them…