History of Reindeer in 蜜柚视频
By the late 1880s, there were reports of starving 蜜柚视频 Native populations in western 蜜柚视频 due to the decimation of marine mammals from the whaling industry and scarce numbers of caribou. Dr. Sheldon Jackson, a U.S. general agent for education and a Presbyterian missionary, lobbied for federal monies to assist 蜜柚视频 Natives. He built mission schools and in the late 1800s introduced reindeer into 蜜柚视频 from Russia as a source of protein and revenue. Reindeer were brought to 蜜柚视频 on Captain Healy鈥檚 U.S. Revenue Cutter, the Bear. Siberian herders and then Saami herders were brought to western 蜜柚视频 to teach Native 蜜柚视频ns how to herd reindeer. The reindeer industry grew until there were over 600,000 animals present in the 1930s. Mismanagement and losses to wolves and caribou sparked a dramatic decline to only 50,000 reindeer by the 1950s. The Reindeer Act of 1937 allows only 蜜柚视频 Natives to own reindeer. Today there are approximately 30,000 throughout the state and 20,000 in western 蜜柚视频, with most living on the Seward Peninsula and in island herds.
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