“Purvis paints a rousing and Native-focused picture of Alaska’s past that emphasizes how the battle over land use and environmental health is a central force in U.S. history. Purvis’s unique perspective is worth checking out for environmentalist activists, legal minds, and American history buffs alike.”—Publishers Weekly
“A testament to the resilience of Alaska Native individuals and their communities in the face of governmental, commercial, and private intrusions into their homelands. Diane Purvis illustrates how Indigenous peoples have defended their rights and lands, as powerful myths and assumptions about the frontier, progress, and the infallibility of Western science have devalued their traditional lifeways and threatened their very survival. When outright victory has not been possible, the persistence and ingenuity of Indigenous peoples have led to collaborative and creative solutions.”—Mary Ehrlander, author of Walter Harper, Alaska Native Son
“A badly needed perspective on the intersection of Native rights and environmental regulations. Alaska Natives’ status and pressures for Alaskan resource development and resource management come together here to provide an on-the-ground perspective from Alaska Native villages.”—Steven M. Fountain, coauthor of History of American Indians: Exploring Diverse Roots
