Haines School students perform a Tsimshian dance and song as they exit the gymnasium. (Photo by Henry Leasia)

On February 14th, sweethearts around the world wrote love letters, bought chocolates and exchanged roses for Valentines Day. Meanwhile, at the Haines School, students prepared for a holiday that often goes overlooked: Elizabeth Peratrovich Day.

In 1945, nearly twenty years before the Civil Rights Act was passed, Alaska’s Senate met to discuss a bill prohibiting racial discrimination in the territory. Alaska Native Sisterhood Grand President Elizabeth Peratrovich addressed the senators during a hearing on the bill.

Haines resident and Alaska Native Sisterhood Grand Secretary Carol Duis said that her speech provided a compelling account of the second-class existence Alaska Natives experienced at that time.

“The things that propelled Elizabeth Peratrovich were, for instance, her and her husband thought they had a house they could lease. As soon as the owner found out they were native it was suddenly off the table. Their children endured discrimination in the schools,” Duis said.

Following Peratrovich’s speech, the territorial senate passed the Alaska Territories Anti-Discrimination Act. Since 1988, the state of Alaska has recognized February 16th as Elizabeth Peratrovich Day to commemorate the anniversary of the landmark legislation.

Locally, there have been efforts to increase awareness about the holiday. Haines School Migrant Education Program coordinator Natalie Benassi said that she has been working with the Alaska Native Sisterhood, or ANS, over the past four years to put on an annual assembly for Elizabeth Peratrovich Day.

“The ANS contacted me and said, ‘How can we make this day a big celebration? Let’s celebrate this day.’ We just wanted to give it new life and remind people who Elizabeth Peratrovich was,” Benassi said. “I would like for her to be a national symbol as well, just like other women of history. You know, Sacagawea, Susan B. Anthony,” 

Friday’s ceremonies began with performances of traditional Tlingit songs and dances by the 3rd, 4th and 5th grade. They were taught by Haines High School students Kyle Strong and Tanna Dixon.

Strong has been dancing for a little more than 10 years. He says he first got hooked on the thrill of performing in front of others. These days he feels dancing is more of an obligation.

“Because it’s a big part of my heritage, and I didn’t really know it until I was a little older. It didn’t really click how important this is,” Strong said.

Historically, Alaska Native culture has been suppressed, particularly in schools. In the past, students were forbidden to speak Alaska Native languages or practice Native traditions.

Dixon said that the performance she and Strong helped put together for the assembly wouldn’t have been possible without the work of Peratrovich.  

“It just shows how far we’ve come and what she did allow us to become,” Dixon said. “Of course, we’re more modernized now but we still try to keep our culture within it. A lot of people are trying to learn the language, we’re all trying to do these dances and sing our songs. It just shows our pride in our culture in general.”

Duis said that in spite of the progress made since the anti-discrimination act there is still more work to be done. She said that ANS, continues to fight for the civil rights that Peratrovich stood for.

(from left) ANS Haines Camp sisters Anastasia Wiley, Carol Duis, Carol Lawrence, Marilyn Wilson, and Debra Kemp.

“In her speech, she used a phrase to the effect that legislation would not end discrimination. There’s still discrimination whether you’re talking about housing or other areas. We’re working at being better,” Duis said.

Recently, Peratrovich has received more recognition for her contribution to the civil rights movement. This month, the University of Alaska Press will publish Fighter in Velvet Gloves, a book that recounts her life and activism. And in 2020, the U.S. Mint will release a dollar coin with a design honoring the Tlingit leader.

But at the Haines School, the best way to commemorate Elizabeth Peratrovich is to exercise the right to express pride in your culture.

Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that the Tlingit dances were performed by the 6th grade during the Elizabeth Peratrovich Day assembly. The dances were performed by 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students.