Making History

A model of innovative ethnohistory, this account of the Alutiiq people of the Alaska Peninsula spans some 9000 years, concentrating on the 200 years between Russian occupation and the start of the war with Japan. Unlike most historical documentation of the region, it is not a passive record: using collective and individual histories of a people as captured through writing, artifact, oral history, and personal narrative, Partnow weaves a rich story of Alutiiqs not only making their own history, but also expressing a unique perception of the very nature of history. Numerous historical and contemporary maps and photographs, as well as Partnow's historical and cultural background, allow the people to speak for themselves while expanding the ability of readers to interpret the various voices. Together the many elements of this history show a vital culture making its way into the future without letting go of the past.