Laura Bergt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Laura Bergt
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Bergt in 1969
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Laura Mae Beltz
October 1, 1940 Candle, Territory of Alaska, U.S.
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| Died | March 14, 1984 (aged 43) Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
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| Years active | 1960–1977 |
Laura Mae Bergt (born Beltz; October 1, 1940 – March 14, 1984) was an Iñupiaq athlete, model, and important activist for Indigenous Alaskans. She was born in the Northwest Arctic Borough of Alaska. Laura grew up in Nome and Kotzebue before going to high school in Sitka.
She was very involved in the Native Olympic movement. Laura won the Arctic Circle blanket toss event nine times. She also led the World Eskimo Indian Olympics committee in 1966. Bergt worked to promote the new state of Alaska. She attended trade shows and appeared on radio and TV shows. From the 1960s, she worked to help Indigenous people with issues like housing, education, jobs, and poverty.
In 1968, Bergt spoke to the United States House of Representatives. She explained why it was important to settle Native land claims. This would provide money for programs and protect hunting and fishing rights. Her connection with Vice President Spiro Agnew and her role on the National Council on Indian Opportunity helped pass the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act in 1971. In 1972, President Richard Nixon chose her for a national policy advisory committee. She also served on the National Health Advisory Committee in 1975. From 1976 to 1978, she was a commissioner for the Indian Arts and Crafts Board. She was also part of President Gerald Ford's United States Bicentennial Council.
In Alaska, Bergt helped create schools for children with disabilities. She also worked to preserve Native Arts. She was part of many housing and rural development projects. In 1973, she was elected to the Fairbanks City Council's Borough Assembly. The girls' dormitory at her old high school, Mt. Edgecumbe High School, is named after her. She was the first person to receive the Frank Whaley Award for service to the Eskimo Olympics. In 2015, she was honored in the Alaska Women's Hall of Fame.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Laura Mae Beltz, whose Iñupiat name was "Mumiak," was born on October 1, 1940. Her birthplace was Candle, Alaska. Her parents were Fredrica "Rica" (Reich) and Bert Beltz. Her mother was Iñupiat and German. Her father was a bush pilot. He was also the brother of Alaska Territorial Senator William Beltz.
Laura grew up in Nome and Kotzebue. She went to elementary school there. She later graduated from Mt. Edgecumbe Boarding School in Sitka.
Career Highlights
Promoting Alaska (1957–1969)
After finishing school, Laura worked as a secretary for Alaska Airlines in Kotzebue. She married Neil Bergt in 1958. They had a daughter, Debra Lynne, in 1959. They later had twins, Michael Alan and Karen Gail, in 1960, and another son, Bryan, in 1965.
In 1959, Bergt appeared on the cover of Holiday magazine. The magazine featured an article about Alaska becoming a state. This made her famous around the world. She was invited to appear on TV shows like High Adventure and The Ed Sullivan Show.
In 1964, Bergt was chosen as the national committeewoman for the Young Republicans from Alaska. She also helped start the Cook Inlet Native Association. In 1967, she was appointed to lead the committee for the World Eskimo Indian Olympics. Bergt was a great athlete herself. She won the blanket toss nine times by 1969.
She worked with tourism groups and business councils to promote Alaska. She traveled to California for trade fairs. There, she gave speeches, appeared on TV and radio, and showed Native sports and crafts. She talked about Alaskan food and culture. She also spoke about challenges for Native Alaskans, like poor housing and limited education. In 1969, she became the office manager for the Alaska Federation of Natives. She also worked for the Tundra Times newspaper. In 1970, she went to Expo '70 in Japan to promote Alaska.
Working for Native Rights and Land Claims (1968–1972)
In 1968, Bergt was part of the first group to speak to the U.S. House about Native land claims. These claims were about who owned traditional Native land. Native people wanted money to develop their communities and protect their hunting and fishing rights. Bergt explained that Native communities faced poor housing, lack of clean water, and poverty.
In 1970, President Richard Nixon asked her to join the National Council on Indian Opportunity (NCIO). This council was led by Vice President Spiro Agnew. Bergt had met Agnew in 1968. In 1970, Nixon announced a new policy. It supported Native self-determination, meaning tribes could make their own decisions.
In 1971, during a conference, Bergt taught Vice President Agnew how to Eskimo kiss. This moment was widely shared in the news. A Native leader, John Borbridge Jr, joked that "each one of those kisses was worth a million acres" for Native Alaskans. Bergt urged Agnew to meet with Native leaders. This meeting helped the government understand Native demands for land and fair payment. This led to the passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act in 1971. This act was a huge step for Native rights in Alaska.
Later Career and Advocacy (1972–1983)
After her time on the NCIO, President Nixon asked Bergt to serve on a national committee of Indigenous leaders. This group advised Nixon on the needs of Native Americans. Bergt worked on many local projects. She supported training for Native Alaskans in textiles and animal care. She also worked on housing projects and helped Native Alaskans find jobs on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline.
She also cared deeply about children with disabilities. In 1972, she pushed for funding for schools for children with special needs. There were no such schools in Alaska at the time. She wanted three regional schools for children who were blind, deaf, or had learning disabilities. Governor William Egan appointed her to a task force for the hard-of-hearing. He also chose her for the Rural Affairs Commission.
In 1973, Bergt was elected to the Fairbanks City Council's Borough Assembly. She served a three-year term. In 1974, she worked on a study for the federal Indian Arts and Crafts Board. This study looked into creating an arts institute for Alaska Natives. With help from the Tundra Times, they secured money to create the Institute of Alaska Native Arts.
In 1975, she was appointed to the National Health Advisory Committee. President Gerald Ford also asked her to join the United States Bicentennial Council. This council planned celebrations for America's 200th anniversary. In 1976, she became a commissioner for the Indian Arts and Crafts Board. She continued to work with the State Tourism Advisory Board and made many public appearances. She even appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson three times.
In 1977, Laura and Neil Bergt divorced. In 1978, she married William Crockett, a Hawaiian attorney. She often spent winters in Hawaii and summers in Alaska.
Death and Legacy
Laura Bergt Crockett passed away on March 14, 1984, in Honolulu. She died from kidney failure. A service was held in Anchorage.
She is remembered for her important role in the Alaskan land claims settlement. Many believe her appointment to the National Council on Indian Opportunity helped Native leaders and the Nixon administration agree on the claims in 1971. In 1984, she received the first Frank Whaley Award from the World Eskimo Indian Olympics. This award honors great contributions to the organization. In 2015, she was inducted into the Alaska Women's Hall of Fame for her work for the state.
See also
In Spanish: Laura Bergt para niños
Images for kids
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Bergt, modeling photograph 1969
