When people think of American Civil Rights leaders, often Martin Luther King Jr. or Malcom X come to mind. But one lesser-known Civil Rights activist was born and raised right here in Southeast Alaska: a Tlingit woman named Elizabeth Peratrovich.
Alaskans celebrate Elizabeth Peratrovich and her legacy every year on February 16th, Elizabeth Peratrovich Day, a time for Alaskans to honor her work toward eliminating discrimination and promoting equal rights across our state.
Photo: 2025 Elizabeth Peratovich Day parade
Elizabeth Wanamaker Peratrovich was born July 4, 1911 (happy birthday, Elizabeth!) in Petersburg, Alaska and attended Sheldon Jackson School in Sitka, which was a boarding school for Native children at the time. She eventually became the Grand President of the Alaska Native Sisterhood, an organization created to fight racism against Alaska Native peoples.
Photo: 2025 Elizabeth Peratovich Day parade
Despite Alaskans becoming citizens in 1924, fighting in World War II, and paying taxes, Alaska Natives were consistently discriminated against and restricted on where they could live, receive medical care, and attend school. Elizabeth and her husband, Roy, worked on the Alaska Equal Rights Act campaign for years, with the legislation initially failing to pass in 1943. Finally, in 1945, the anti-discrimination bill passed both the House and Senate after Elizabeth delivered a speech highlighting all of the injustices she and her people faced. The governor at the time, Ernest Gruening, was quoted at the time as saying that the bill never would have passed without Elizabeth’s efforts.
Photo: 2025 Elizabeth Peratovich Day parade
This legislation, the Anti-Discrimination Act of 1945, was the first anti-discrimination law in Alaskan history and the first enacted in the United States, nearly 20 years before the major national civil rights bills of the 1960s. Elizabeth Peratrovich continued fighting for Alaska Native civil rights until her death on December 1, 1958, at the age of 47.
When visiting Sitka, you can stop by a commemorative park bench in the Harrigan Centennial Hall Plaza that was placed in 2022. This unique memorial is made of two slabs of yellow cedar fashioned from a 124-year old tree that fell during a storm. It’s set in concrete and weighs about 2,000 pounds. Take a seat and read the plaque that Sitkans placed in honor of Elizabeth Peratrovich and her incredible legacy.
Photo: Alaska Native Sisterhood members at the commemoration of the Elizabeth Peratovich bench.
*Historical information throughout this post was provided by the State of Alaska and the National Park Service. Cover photo courtesy of National Park Service*
