ABSTRACT
Summary: This chapter outlines the cross-cultural nature of public education in Alaska. The state's vast size and sparse population, scattered widely in remote centres, pose unusual education problems, especially for its indigenous minorities. These minorities, speaking 20 distinct languages, are in various stages of transition — from traditional subsistence living to modern urbanization. The history of government treatment of these groups is outlined, with special emphasis given to the most recent educational developments, such as bilingual education and the pressure to create small secondary schools. The problems associated with these developments are discussed in detail. Finally, the current rapid rate of economic development, resulting from the discovery of enormous oil fields under Alaska's North Slope and from revenues derived from the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, is discussed in the light of new commitments from the state's institution of higher education to meet the needs of Alaska's indigenous population.
