Learning from Each Other: A History of Russian-native Contacts in Late Eighteenth-Early Nineteenth Century Exploration and Mapping of Alaska and the Aleutian Islands

The paper discusses contacts between educated European hydrographers and the native population of Alaska and the Aleutian Islands during their exploration and occupation by the Russians (late XVIII c. - 1867). The author, on the basis of his studies in Russia, the USA and the United Kingdom has foun...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Postnikov, Alexey V.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: The International Hydrographic Review 2005
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/ihr/article/view/20686
Description
Summary:The paper discusses contacts between educated European hydrographers and the native population of Alaska and the Aleutian Islands during their exploration and occupation by the Russians (late XVIII c. - 1867). The author, on the basis of his studies in Russia, the USA and the United Kingdom has found that the contacts were very active and helpful for the hydrographic surveys and the compilation of charts for the waters and coast of Russian America. The paper shows that the native tribes of these lands (Aleuts, Eskimos and others) had created their own original very skilled methods of navigation. El articulo trata sobre los contactos entre hidrôgrafos de formaciôn europea y la poblaciôn nativa de Alaska y de las Islas Aleutianas, durante su exploraciôn y ocupaciôn por los Rusos (a finales del Siglo XVIII c. - 1867). El autor, basândose en sus estudios cursados en Rusia, Estados Unidos de América y en el Reino Unido, ha encontrado que los contactos eran muy activos y ûtiles para los levantamientos hidrogrâficos y la compilaciôn de cartas para las aguas y la costa de la América Rusa. El articulo muestra que las tribus nativas de estas tierras (los aleutianos, esquimales y otros) habîan creado sus propios originales y muy habiles métodos de navegaciôn. Cet article traite des contacts qui furent établis entre les hydrographes européens érudits et la population originaire d'Alaska et des îles Aléoutiennes, pendant la période d ’exploration et d ’occupation russe (de la fin du XVIIIe siècle jusqu’en 1867). L'auteur, sur la base de ses études en Russie, aux USA et au Royaume-Uni, a jugé que l ’établissement de contacts était un processus très dynamique et utile pour l ’exécution des levés hydrographiques et la compilation des cartes se rapportant aux eaux et à la côte de l ’Amérique russe. Cet article montre que les tribus natives de ces territoires ( Aléoutes, Esquimaux et autres) avaient créé leurs propres méthodes de navigation, à la fois originales et très élaborées.