List of Alaska Native inventors and scientists facts for kids
This article is about amazing Alaska Natives who are inventors and scientists! For a very long time, these communities have had a lot of knowledge about nature and how the world works. This knowledge often came before what was written in science books.
For over a hundred years, Alaska Native naturalists have worked with scientists. They shared their unique ways of understanding the world. They also created practical inventions needed to live off the land, air, and water.
It's important to know that many explorers and settlers in the past relied on the wisdom of Indigenous peoples to survive. Today, many groups are working to make sure Indigenous knowledge is respected and valued.
This list highlights individual people, but many great projects also happen when communities work together. Organizations like the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) and the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP) help young Indigenous students become scientists and engineers. This is very important because not many Indigenous people currently earn science and engineering degrees.
Inventors and Scientists from Alaska
| Name | Years | Tribal Affiliation | What they are known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billy Adams | 1965- | Iñupiat | Works with scientists on marine mammals and ice. He has over 30 years of experience. |
| Harry Brower Sr. | 1924-1992 | Iñupiat | Known for his knowledge about whales and the Arctic. |
| Patricia Longley Cochran | Iñupiat | ||
| Stanley Edwin | Gwich'in | Studied atmospheric sciences and climate. | |
| Sven Haakanson | 1967- | Alutiiq | |
| Al Hopson, Sr. or Eben Hopson | Iñupiat | Known for his work related to the Naval Arctic Laboratory. | |
| Orville Huntington | Athabaskan | Studied wildlife biology, climate change, and Indigenous knowledge. | |
| Paul John | 1929-2015 | Yup'ik | |
| Teresa Arevgaq John | Yup'ik | ||
| Oscar Kawagley | 1934-2011 | Yup'ik | An educator who taught about traditional knowledge and science. |
| Della Keats | 1907-1996 | Iñupiat | A respected healer and midwife. |
| Joe Leavitt | 1959- | Iñupiat | Works as a consultant with ice scientists. He has over 40 years of experience. |
| Ilarion (Larry) Merculieff | circa 1950 | Aleut | |
| Simon Paneak | 1900-1975 | Iñupiat | Known for his contributions to Arctic research. |
| Peter Sovalik | 1910-1977 | Iñupiat | Described as an "Original Arctic Naturalist." |
| Tina Marie Woods | Aleut | Has a Ph.D. in Psychology and worked in the Alaska Tribal Health System. |
Native Science Organizations
These groups help support and promote science within Native communities:
- Sitka Tribe
- Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council
- Native American Research Center for Health
See also
- Traditional Alaska Native Medicine
- Traditional Ecological Knowledge
- Traditional Knowledge
Resources
- Brower, H., & Brewster, K. (2004). The whales, they give themselves: Conversations with Harry Brower, Sr. This book shares conversations with Harry Brower, Sr.
- Eben Hopson Memorial Archives: Learn more about the life and leadership of Eben Hopson.
- Sea Ice Project Jukebox This project has recordings of people from northern Alaska talking about sea ice. They share how the ice has changed over time. It includes interviews from 1978-1980 and 2008-2009.
- Sturm, M. (2002). Fifty More Years below Zero: Tributes and Meditations for the Naval Arctic Research Laboratory's First Half Century.
