Peratrovich Park
Sponsors
FRIENDS OF PERATROVICH PARK
Status
COMPLETE
Award
$20,000
Challenge
Total cash raised: $56,100; total volunteers: 20+; volunteer hours: 1770; skilled
volunteer hours: 775; total expenses: $71,981; remaining funds to spend: $4,539;
total match value: $133,575
Total Project Value including Rasmuson Foundation Grant: $153,575
The Anchorage Park Foundation helped raise funds to install a statue titled Flight of the Raven, by
Roy Peratrovich Jr., in Roy and Elizabeth Peratrovich Park. The project construction,
landscaping and dedication is complete. This group will use remaining funds it
raised for education and the enhancement of cultural aspects of project goals
and objectives.
About Roy and Elizabeth Peratrovich:
In Alaska Native legend, Raven brought light to the world
when he stole the sun from an ancient Chief and gave it
to the People. The Chief kept the sun hidden in a box, but
through trickery Raven seized it in his beak and escaped
through the smokehole of the Chief’s lodge. The rising
smoke turned Raven’s feathers black.
Roy and Elizabeth Peratrovich, Tlingit Indians of Southeastern
Alaska, were leaders of the Alaska Native Brotherhood
and Sisterhood during the time when discrimination against
Alaska Natives was accepted practice. It was Elizabeth’s
speech to the territorial Senators during the fi nal hearing of
the Anti-Discrimination Bill on February 8, 1945, that swayed
the votes necessary to pass it 11 to 5. During her speech,
when the Senate President asked if she thought passage
of the bill would eliminate discrimination, she replied, “Do
your laws against larceny and even murder prevent these
crimes? No law will eliminate crimes, but at least you as legislators
can assert to the world that you recognize the
evil of the present situation and speak your intent to help us
overcome discrimination.”
Primarily through their efforts, Alaska enacted one of the
fi rst Anti-Discrimination Laws in the nation on February 16,
1945. A new era in Alaska’s racial relations had begun.
In recognition of their work, the State of Alaska designated
February 16 as Elizabeth Peratrovich Day, and the
Municipality of Anchorage created the Roy and Elizabeth
Peratrovich Park in their memory.
Roy was a member of the Eagle Clan, and Elizabeth was a
Raven -- so in yet another way Raven brought light to the
world.