The plight of Alaska Natives parallels that of American Indians in many respects. Despite being the first Americans, both were not fully admitted to citizenship until 1924. They were viewed by many whites as uncivilized. If any education was provided to them, it was through separate and inferior schools designed to destroy their culture and force them to assimilate into the white world.1 Their lands were stolen from them. Their rights to valuable natural resources were taken away with little, if any, compensation. Both groups were ravaged by epidemics brought by explorers and traders.