Born Kaaxalgat on July 4, 1911, into the Raven clan of the Tlingit Lukaaxadi. She was orphaned at an early age; she was later adopted and given the name Elizabeth Wanamaker. She grew up in Petersburg and Ketchikan, Alaska. Elizabeth went on to attend the Western College of Education in Bellingham, Washington. It was in Bellingham that she met and married Roy Peratrovich, a native of Klawock, Alaska. Elizabeth and Roy had 3 children, Roy Jr, Loretta Marie and Frank Allen. In 1941, the couple returned to Klawock, where they lived for many years. Roy was employed as a fisherman and later became involved with government affairs. He would go on to become the mayor of Klawock.
Many years later they relocated to Juneau, where they were horrified by the blatant discrimination the whites showed towards Native Alaskans. Roy remained employed in territorial government until 1946 and Elizabeth worked for the Territorial Treasurer's office, the legislature and Juneau Credit Association. While in Juneau, both Elizabeth and Roy were active parts of native right's groups: Roy was president of the Alaska Native Brotherhood (ANB) and Elizabeth was president of the Alaska Native Sisterhood (ANS).
In 1945, Governor Ernest Gruening, Congressional Representative Anthony J. Dimond and Edward Anderson, mayor of Nome, helped introduce legislation for the equal rights of Native peoples. The bill passed quickly through the house with 19-5 vote. It wasn't until the bill reached the Senate that opposition arose, Senator Allen Shattuck said "Far from being brought closer together, which will result from this bill... the races should be kept further apart. Who are these people, barely out of savagery, who want to associate with us whites with five thousand years of recorded civilization behind us?" and Senator Frank Whaley did not want to sit next to an Inuit
"because they smelled".
Other senators supported the bill such as, O.D Cochran, who was able to cite many cases of discrimination he'd faced as a Native person. As the discussion became more heated Elizabeth maintained her composure and listened to the opposition, who demanded segregation of Natives and whites.
Roy was also invited to speak about his views on the bill by Senator Walker, who was another supporter. "Only Indians can know how it feels to be discriminated against. Either you are for discrimination or you are against it, accordingly as you vote in this bill", spoke Roy Peratrovich. After Roy gave his testimony, an opportunity for anyone present to voice his or her opinion came up: it was than that Elizabeth arose and asked to speak and she did just that, in front of an audience of predominantly white and male legislators, "I would not have expected," she stated, "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. When my husband and I came to Juneau and sought a home in a nice neighborhood where our children could play happily with our neighbors' children, we found such a house and had arranged to lease it. When the owner learned we were Indians, they said "no." "Would we be compelled to live in the slums?". The rest of her speech was well worded and she gave a highly insightful perspective on the discrimination faced by Native Alaskans. Having been a constant victim of persecution her whole life, Elizabeth boldly told the assembly, "the finest of our race (has been forced) to associate with white trash."
The previously mentioned Senator Shattuck asked Elizabeth if she thought the proposed bill would eliminate discrimination. Her reply, which was a poignant part of her testimony was, "So laws against larceny and even murder prevent these crimes? No law will eliminate crimes but at least you legislators can assert to the world that you recognize the evil of the present situation and speak your intent to help us overcome discrimination." After Elizabeth finished, she was given a standing ovation by the assembly. Strong opposition couldn't rival the strength and determination of Elizabeth, a Tlingit woman. On February 8, 1945, the Senate passed the anti-discrimination bill, 11-5 votes.
Elizabeth continued working for the equality of all Alaskans, alongside her husband for the rest of her life. Elizabeth Peratrovich passed away on December 1, 1958, after a long battle with cancer. Elizabeth's legacy continues to endure to this day; in 1998, the Alaskan legislataion declared February 16 as, "Annual Elizabeth Peratrovich Day".
Side notes:
Tlingit- indigenous peoples of the northwest coast of North America, the name Tlingit means "people of the tides".
https://www.alaska.edu/uajourney/notable-people/juneau/elizabeth-peratrovich/
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Female Rebels & Activists
Non-Fiction"We need women who are so strong they can be gentle, so educated they can be humble, so fierce they can be compassionate, so passionate they can be rational and so disciplined they can be free" ...
