Congressional Record—Senate S1045
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
February 25, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1045 After statehood, Governor Stepovich the same year a group of Alaska Na- began their public pursuit of equal turned his attention to representing tives from Southeast formed the Alas- rights for all people in Alaska. Alaska in the U.S. Senate. He lost his ka Native Brotherhood to advocate for Elizabeth began to call upon her bid in 1958 to be one of Alaska’s first a right to U.S. citizenship for Alaska friends and family to involve them- Senators to Ernest Gruening, who had Natives. In 1915, Alaska Native women selves in the anti-discrimination move- served in Washington as one of Alas- came together and established the ment. She recruited women to meet ka’s fir two ‘‘shadow’’ Senators since Alaska Native Sisterhood to work with a Senator from Nome in order to 1956. Stepovich later ran and lost races alongside the brotherhood. Although express to him what it felt like to be to be Governor, first against William Elizabeth was very young for the cre- discriminated against, left out of the A. Egan and later against Walter ation of these bodies, each came to United Service Organization, and Hickel. But his defeats did not dimin- play a great role in her fight for equal forced to read signs in local businesses ish his interest in or dedication to rights. barring them from entry. Elizabeth and Alaska. And he remained especially Many Americans are familiar with Roy met with Governor Gruening to committed to Fairbanks and the rest of the history of discrimination and pres- strategize their movement, and then the Interior region. ence of Jim Crow laws at this time in traveled around Native communities From chairing the Fairbanks Plan- the South. Probably fewer Americans bringing with them sample anti-dis- are familiar with the existence of simi- ning and Zoning Committee in 1952 and crimination legislation from the lower lar discrimination towards Alaska Na- 1953, through the 1980s, Mike Stepovich 48. In 1943, State Senator Norman tives. In Juneau, Alaskan Natives were was always ready to serve to better Walker introduced an act that would restricted to purchasing homes in only Alaska. He was active in the Pioneers provide full and equal accommodations certain parts of town and their chil- of Alaska, the Elks, Eagles, American to all people within the Territory of dren restricted to segregated Indian Legion and the Tanana Valley Bar As- Alaska. The vote was defeated, but the schools. Local business displayed signs sociation. And that was not always Peratroviches were not. easy given that he was a devoted fam- in their store fronts reading, ‘‘No Na- In 1945, the antidiscrimination bill ily man to his wife Matilda and 13 chil- tives Allowed,’’ ‘‘We cater to white was reintroduced. It passed the house dren: Antonia, Maria Theresa, Michael, trade only,’’ or ‘‘No Dogs, No Natives’’ and moved to the senate. The gallery Peter, Christopher, Dominic, Theodore and restaurant signs read, ‘‘Meals at was full, the doors were open and spec- John, Nicholas Vincent, James, Laura, all hours—All white help.’’ The U.S. tators filled the halls outside. Once on Nada, Andrea and Melissa. All 13 of the Congress granted citizenship to Native the senate floor, the debate began. As Stepovich children were able to be to- Americans in 1924, yet signs like these senators stood to speak, Elizabeth, gether with Mike before he passed. and the discrimination they per- along with many other community While I could tell many stories about petrated endured. members listened. They listened as one Mike, let me just say to my fellow Sen- Elizabeth grew up and attended Senator rose to say: ators that Mike Stepovich was a man school in Petersburg, Sitka and Ketch- who would have given the shirt off his ikan. After graduating she continued Far from being brought closer together, back to help a neighbor in need. He was her education at the Western College of which will result from this bill, the races one of the most honorable, decent, and Education in Bellingham, WA. In 1931, should be kept further apart. Who are these people, barely out of savagery, who want to wise men I have had the distinct honor Elizabeth married Roy Peratrovich, a fellow Western College student and associate with us whites with 5,000 years of to know in my life. I can only offer my recorded civilization behind us? sincere condolences to his family upon Tlingit from Klawock, AK. In 1940, Roy his death, just a month shy of his 95th was elected to be the Alaska Native Elizabeth looked on as another sen- birthday. Brotherhood’s camp president and the ator claimed, ‘‘Mixed breeds are the Alaska is a much better place be- following year Elizabeth was elected source of trouble, it is they only who cause of Mike Stepovich. Those of us grand president of the Alaska Native wish to associate with the whites,’’ and who were lucky enough to know him Sisterhood. as a church leader declared that it understand how great a loss this is for Together, with their young family, would take at least 30 years before Alaska. We will always remember his the Peratroviches moved to Juneau, Alaska Natives were equal to white efforts that helped make Alaska, and only to experience discrimination men, Roy rose to speak on behalf of the his hometown of Fairbanks, what it is against Alaska Natives first-hand. Eliz- bill noting that Governor Gruening today.∑ abeth and Roy picked out a home to- recognized discrimination in Alaska. gether and tried to purchase it, but He addressed the legislature with these f once the owners realized that the words, ‘‘Either you are for discrimina- REMEMBERING ELIZABETH AND Peratroviches were Alaska Native, tion or you are against it accordingly ROY PERATROVICH they would not sell. Their children felt as you vote on this bill.’’ ∑ Ms. MURKOWSKI. Madam President, unwelcome at school. Their close fam- Once debate on the bill concluded, I wish to honor Elizabeth Peratrovich, ily friend, Henrietta Newton, who was the public was given a chance to ex- her husband Roy Peratrovich, and not Alaska Native herself but married press their views in front of the legisla- their relentless pursuit of equal civil an Alaska Native man, was told by a ture and a crowd gathered that day. rights in the territory of Alaska. Eliza- local beauty parlor, ‘‘I’m sorry we Given this chance, Elizabeth took it. beth and Roy lived and worked long be- don’t cater to Indian trade.’’ When an Once on the senate floor, Elizabeth sat fore Alaska became a State and still Alaska Native child had an altercation next to the president of the senate, longer before the United States passed with the law, their local newspaper where she addressed the predominantly the Civil Rights Act of 1964. February published it as front page news. Dis- white and all-male body of legislators. 16, 2014 marked the 25th year Alaskans crimination towards Alaska Natives re- ‘‘I would not have expected that I, who celebrated Elizabeth and the passage of mained prevalent. On December 30, am barely out of savagery, would have the Alaska Anti-Discrimination Act of 1941, in their capacities as president to remind gentlemen with five thou- 1945. I would like to take a moment and grand president of the Alaska Na- sand years of recorded civilization be- today, to once again, share the tive Brother and Sisterhoods, Roy and hind them of our Bill of Rights.’’ Peratroviches’ story and reflect on the Elizabeth wrote a letter to Ernest When asked if she thought the bill legacy of their work. Gruening, then Governor of the Terri- would eliminate discrimination, Eliza- Elizabeth, a member of the tory of Alaska. The letter drew atten- beth replied: Lukaaxa´ di clan, in the Raven moiety tion to the discrepancy between Alaska of the Tlingit tribe, was born on Inde- Natives paying taxes for a public Do your laws against larceny and even pendence Day in Petersburg, AK in school system from which their chil- murder prevent those crimes? No law will eliminate crimes but at least you as legisla- 1911. One year later, Alaska gained a dren were excluded and also between tors can assert to the world that you recog- territorial legislature in Juneau made Alaska Native men fighting in World nize the evil of the present situation and up of 8 senators and 16 representatives, War II, who upon return were denied speak your intent to help us overcome dis- none of whom were Alaska Native. In rights that other locals enjoyed. Thus crimination. VerDate Mar 15 2010 01:18 Feb 26, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A25FE6.009 S25FEPT1 smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with SENATE S1046 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE February 25, 2014 As Elizabeth finished speaking, the Susan Beckman Roghani learned the emergency is to continue in effect be- gallery broke out in applause. The sen- value of homemade goods from her yond the anniversary date. In accord- ate voted and passed the anti-discrimi- mother, who sold soaps, creams, and ance with this provision, I have sent nation bill by a vote of 11 to 5. On Feb- original art at local events. In 1986, the enclosed notice to the Federal Reg- ruary 16, 1945, Elizabeth earned her Susan built on the work of her mother ister for publication, stating that the spot as our fighter with velvet gloves, and founded the Camille Beckman cos- national emergency declared on March and as she’s respectfully remembered metics brand in Boise, ID, which uses 1, 1996, with respect to the Government in our State, Alaska’s Martin Luther wholesome ingredients and natural of Cuba’s destruction of two unarmed King.∑ herbs to produce high-quality creams U.S.-registered civilian aircraft in f and lotions.