The Alaska Native Brotherhood (ANB) and its counterpart the Alaska Native Sisterhood (ANS) are legally two nonprofit organizations which are interrelated, and which for purposes of this article are discussed as one collective organization. The organization was created in 1912 in Sitka, Alaska, under the brotherhood name. For the first half of the 20th century, it was the only organization working for civil rights of Alaska Natives in the Territory and state.
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The organization was founded in Sitka in 1912. Two Tlingit brothers were the primary organizers.
According to the official site for the organization, the "founding fathers" included a woman. They were:
Andrew Wanamaker of Sitka, a Tlingit Presbyterian minister, is regarded as an "Honorary Founder".[2]
The Alaska Native Brotherhood Hall, built in 1914 on the waterfront in Sitka, was the first facility owned by the organization. For the significance of the ANB, the hall has been designated a National Historic Landmark.[1][2]
During the 1930s, the Alaska Native Brotherhood obtained at least one Civilian Conservation Corps grant from the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration to restore and preserve totem poles. One $24,000 grant enabled work with architect Linn A. Forrest, an American architect of Juneau, to construct the Shakes Island Community House and to preserve totems at Wrangell in 1937-1939 during the Great Depression.[3]
Elizabeth Peratrovich, member and grand president of the ANS, did organizing, wrote petitions, and testified to the state senate in 1945 for civil rights of Alaska Natives. She helped win passage of the 1945 state anti-discrimination act. In 1988, the State of Alaska designated a state holiday, February 16, on the anniversary of passage of the bill, designating it "Elizabeth Peratrovich Day".
In 2005, the organization opposed U.S. federal law that makes the collection and ownership of eagle feathers illegal, as these have been integral to spiritual and cultural practices of Alaska Natives. See Executive committee 2005 resolution and 2005 news article.
http://www.grandcampanb.org/ Grand Camp, Alaska Native Brotherhood] (official site) http://www.alaskool.org/native_ed/articles/literacy_act/LiteracyTxt.html