Where Did the Reindeer Come From? Alaska Experience the 1st 50 Years

The beginning of the domestic reindeer industry in Alaska reads like a story. The Reverend Sheldon Jackson, a Presbyterian Missionary, became the first Government Agent for Education in Alaska, & while on this assignment he learned of the near-starvation among Eskimos. White men had hunted, & driven off, their source of wildlife & seafood. The account of bringing reindeer from Siberia, & his efforts to prepare Alaska Natives to meet the influx of "outsiders" is filled with frustrations, excitement & intrigue. Cultural conflicts, tradition & superstitions, were ever present. The endless Arctic nights & brief bug-infested summers added problems. Whaling ships frozen in Arctic ice demanded sacrifice of reindeer herds for relief. Reindeer Fairs were held to stimulate interest & competition among the herders. Epidemics of measles & smallpox decimated the Eskimo leadership that was developing. The Nome gold-rush added endless complications. The first 50 years of Reindeer Industry reached a milestone when the Reindeer Act of 1937 mandated that all reindeer be returned to Alaska Natives, for whom they were intended from the beginning. 15 boxed stories give details of leading characters as well as other interesting facts. 48 historic photos have informative captions. Map of Alaska, index & bibliography. This is exciting reading for all ages.Postell, Alice E. is the author of 'Where Did the Reindeer Come From? Alaska Experience the 1st 50 Years' with ISBN 9780962609008 and ISBN 0962609005.