History of Reindeer in 蜜桃影像
By the late 1880s, there were reports of starving 蜜桃影像 Native populations in western 蜜桃影像 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 蜜桃影像 Natives. He built mission schools and in the late 1800s introduced reindeer into 蜜桃影像 from Russia as a source of protein and revenue. Reindeer were brought to 蜜桃影像 on Captain Healy鈥檚 U.S. Revenue Cutter, the Bear. Siberian herders and then Saami herders were brought to western 蜜桃影像 to teach Native 蜜桃影像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 蜜桃影像 Natives to own reindeer. Today there are approximately 30,000 throughout the state and 20,000 in western 蜜桃影像, with most living on the Seward Peninsula and in island herds.
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