[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 1242]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  OBSERVING ELIZABETH PERATROVICH DAY

 Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, every year on February 16, Alaskans 
take time to remember and celebrate Elizabeth Peratrovich, a Tlingit 
woman who demonstrated courage in her convictions--a courage which 
changed the course of civil rights treatment for Alaska Natives.
  Almost 25 years ago, the Alaska State Legislature designated this 
date as Elizabeth Peratrovich Day to commemorate the signing of the 
Alaska Anti-Discrimination Act of 1945 and to honor Ms. Peratrovich.
  Elizabeth Wanamaker was born on July 4, 1911. Her family traveled 
extensively on missionary trips throughout southeast Alaska, providing 
Elizabeth with broad educational experiences and connecting her with 
people throughout the region--an extraordinary opportunity for a Native 
girl of that era.
  After leaving the State to attend Western College in Bellingham, WA, 
she returned to Alaska with her new husband, Roy Peratrovich, who was 
half Tlingit, to work in the canneries in Klawock. Both were educated 
and interested in Native issues, and Roy joined the Alaska Native 
Brotherhood, ANB, and Elizabeth joined the Alaska Native Sisterhood, 
ANS. Both ANB and ANS were working to gain land claims and civil rights 
for Alaska's Native people. Their interests turned to activism, and 
Elizabeth and Roy began to get more involved in their community. Roy 
was elected as mayor of Klawock.
  Eventually, the couple decided to move to Alaska's territorial 
capital, Juneau, in search of more opportunities and a better education 
for their children. Their dreams quickly dissolved when they discovered 
Natives were not welcome in many places in Juneau. There were signs 
reading ``No dogs, No Natives or Filipinos'' and others that simply 
said ``No Natives Allowed.'' They found separate drinking fountains and 
separate entryways in public buildings for non-Whites. They learned 
they could only purchase property in Native neighborhoods, could only 
be seated in a segregated portion of the local theater, and could only 
send their children to missionary schools--not the public schools for 
which they paid a school tax.
  In 1941, Elizabeth and Roy wrote a joint letter to Territorial 
Governor Ernest Gruening about their concerns. Many legislators were 
entrenched with the idea that Alaska Natives were second class citizens 
and despite the fact they paid taxes and bore arms in defense of the 
Nation, they were not endowed with the same rights as others.
  However, 1945 brought some hope. Antidiscrimination legislation had 
passed the Alaska State House but was stalled in the Senate. One 
senator made a speech stating that Natives had only recently emerged 
from savagery and they were not fit for society. He argued they had not 
had the experience of 5,000 years of civilization.
  With great courage and composure, Elizabeth Peratrovich stood during 
public testimony and confronted the senator who had just belittled her 
and her people. Not only was she a Native addressing the mostly White 
senate, she was also the first woman ever to address the body.
  Elizabeth Peratrovich opened her testimony with, ``I would not have 
expected that I, who am barely out of savagery, would have to remind 
gentlemen with five thousand years of recorded civilization behind them 
of our Bill of Rights.''
  The senate gallery and floor exploded in applause. The opposition 
that had been so absolute and emphatic shrank to a mere whisper.
  On February 8, 1945, a bill to end discrimination in Alaska passed 
the senate by a vote of 11 to 5. The bill was signed into law on 
February 16--the day we celebrate Elizabeth Peratrovich Day.
  Elizabeth Peratrovich was instrumental in making Alaska the first 
organized government under the U.S. flag to condemn discrimination. 
Today in Alaska, we celebrate Elizabeth Peratrovich Day and affirm our 
beliefs in equality.
  Thank you for allowing me to embrace the memory of one woman who 
fought for equality for all, Alaskan Elizabeth Peratrovich.

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