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