SitNews - Stories in the News - Ketchikan, Alaska

 

Viewpoints

Elizabeth Peratrovich Day
By Janice Jackson

 

January 31, 2006
Tuesday

The Elizabeth Peratrovich Day local committee has organized a 3-day celebration in honor of Alaska s civil rights leader.

Both Elizabeth Peratrovich and her husband Roy Peratrovich were Grand Presidents of the Alaska Native Sisterhood (ANS) and Alaska Native Brotherhood (ANB) and worked diligently for years to ensure passage of the Anti-Discrimination Bill of 1945, in the Alaska Legislature.

The first event in honor of Elizabeth Peratrovich Day will be the opening of an exhibit about Elizabeth & Roy Peratrovich and the ANB & ANS, in the Hallmark Stenfjords store at the Plaza Mall. The Alaska Native Brotherhood and Sisterhood will host a reception to honor this exhibit, on Saturday, February 11, from 12:00-1:00 in front of the Hallmark store in the Plaza. The exhibit will be on display February 4-28.

On Sunday, February 12, kids & families are invited to join in the fun by being in the Elizabeth Peratrovich Day car parade. The parade will begin at 2:00pm with cars lining up at Gas-at-Last (near Tatsuda's), and ending at Wal-Mart where hot dogs will be provided free of charge for everyone.

The main Elizabeth Peratrovich Day event will be on Wednesday, February 15, at 6:00 p.m. at the SE Alaska Discovery Center on Main Street. The highlight of the program will be students reading their winning essays in the Elizabeth Peratrovich Day essay contest that was distributed to all schools in the local district.

"Elizabeth Peratrovich Day provides an opportunity to remind the public of the invaluable contribution of this Native Alaskan leader who was an advocate for Native citizens and their rights. This courageous woman could not remain silent about injustice, prejudice and discrimination. In 1988, the Alaska State Legislature established February 16 as the annual Elizabeth Peratrovich Day to commemorate the anniversary of the signing of the Anti-Discrimination Act." (Anchorage School District, online)

All events are free and open to the public.

Janice Jackson
Ketchikan, AK - USA

 

About: Janice Jackson is a member of the Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 14 (Ketchikan) and works with the local Elizabeth Peratrovich Day committee to honor Alaska's civil rights leaders.

 

 

Note: Comments published on Viewpoints are the opinions of the writer
and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Sitnews.

 

Write a Letter -------Read Letters

E-mail the Editor

Sitnews
Stories In The News
Ketchikan, Alaska