The Alaska Myth

Is Alaska stuck in the myth of the big strike? On this week's bonus episode, we speak with Kathryn Morse, a professor at Middlebury College and author of The Nature of Gold: an Environmental History of the Klondike Gold Rush. I loved speaking with Kathryn because she is both incredibly knowledgeable about the Klondike Gold Rush,  and an astute observer of how gold rush era myths inform Alaska...

This episode looks at one of the most mythologized eras of Alaska's history: the gold rush.  We dig into the myth of the sole prospector, and why that obscures almost everything about the gold rush.  And we explore the myth of lawlessness through the lens of Tlingit law, miners' justice, and a company of Black soldiers sent to bring "law and order" to Alaskan towns during the K...

Today's special bonus episode of The Alaska Myth features an extended conversation with Sophie Frets about her memories of Cry of the  Wild Ram.  Sophie appeared in Episode 2 of The Alaska Myth: Kodiak Remembers. Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

This episode looks at how Russian colonization has been publicly remembered in Kodiak in the island's recent history. We speak to staff at the Kodiak History Museum, the Alutiiq Museum, and community members who performed in the summer theatre production Cry of the Wild Ram .  Guests:  Anjuli Grantham Sarah Harrington Lynn Walker April Laktonen Counceller Hanna Sholl Sophie Frets For more inf...

Today's special bonus episode of The Alaska Myth features an extended conversation with Tia Tidwell about her research on settler fantasies. Tia Tidwell is an Assistant Professor of Alaska Native Studies. She belongs to the Nunamiut people of Anaktuvuk Pass and currently resides on the lands of the Lower Tanana and Dené people. Tia holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degree in English...

"The Last Frontier" is perhaps Alaska's most pervasive settler myth. But what does it mean to call Alaska a "last frontier?" How did it become so baked into our state's identity? And what does it mean to build Alaska's identity off a myth as antiquated as "the last frontier?" In this episode, we discuss settler myths, get real about "the real Alask...

The Alaska Myth is a documentary podcast about the myths that shape how Alaskans view our history and ourselves. We explore how settler myths shape popular ideas about Alaska's history and identity, and deconstruct those myths. The Alaska Myth is a production of Rosebay Audio, created and hosted by Kaitlin Armstrong. Follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram . Be the first to hear full-le...