The Grade "Old Knik,” AEC

Access image
Description: 

Laurence No. 19. Verso: Alaska Railroad - Anchorage to Matanuska, Eklutna. [view down cleared right of way] [Dena'ina Elnena, Dena'ina Territory, Idlughet (Eklutna)]

Protocol: 
Anchorage Museum Community Only
Community: 
Anchorage Museum
Category: 
Land Stewardship
Keywords: 
Railroads, Anchorage, Matanuska, Eklutna, Old Knik, Railroad Equipment
Collections: 
Jack H. Floyd Collection
Original Date Description: 
Year Unknown; September, Alaska Engineering Commission; Alaska Railroad
Creator: 
Selena Ortega-Chiolero
Contributor: 
Anchorage Museum, P.S. Hunt
Rights: 
All the Anchorage Museum’s digital content is the property of the Museum or its licensors and are protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws unless identified otherwise. You may not use, reproduce, distribute, or modify any content from the Website without prior written consent. Copyright authority for all Anchorage Museum materials shared through this database has been transferred to the Chickaloon Village Traditional Council. These materials are shared with users for the purpose of cultural restoration and preservation, under the protection of Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND (attribution, non-commercial, no derivatives) licensing. Users are granted access with the understanding that the materials are to be used solely for educational purposes, with respect and honor for the Ahtna Dene Peoples. For more information, visit: https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/cclicenses/
Traditional Knowledge Labels: 
Licensing Options: 
Creative Commons License

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

Source: 
Jack H. Floyd Collection
Identifier: 
B1957_005_186
Subject: 
Railroads, Anchorage, Construction
Type: 
Digital Image
Format: 
Print Photograph
Access image
Description: 

Laurence No. 19. Verso: Alaska Railroad - Anchorage to Matanuska, Eklutna. [view down cleared right of way] [Dena'ina Elnena, Dena'ina Territory, Idlughet (Eklutna)].

Cultural Narrative: 

The development of the Alaska Railroad had a profound negative impact on Alaska Native Peoples. Although it was intended to connect communities across the state, the construction of the railroad led to an influx of new populations, the destruction of thousands of acres of pristine land, the creation of pollution where there was none, and in some cases, the diversion of waterways that disrupted salmon populations—an essential food source for Alaska Native Peoples. These destructive changes disrupted the Ahtna way of life, and their lasting effects continue to influence the work of the Tribe's Environmental Stewardship Department, which is dedicated to reversing this damage.

Traditional Knowledge: 

The section of the Alaska Railroad between Anchorage and what was once the town Matanuska (now the Palmer Hay Flats) lies within the ancestral homelands of the Idlughet Qayeht’ana (Eklutna Village Dena’ina) and is also considered an extension of Nay'dini'aa Na' Kayax (Chickaloon Native Village) ancestral lands. Although these lands were never ceded and are no longer under the legal ownership of either Tribe, both Tribes, along with the broader Dena'ina and Ahtna communities, work collaboratively to ensure these lands are responsibly stewarded and that their history is appropriately acknowledged.

Title: 
The Grade "Old Knik,” AEC
Protocol: 
Cets'e'tnaey (Iron People) - Public Access
Community: 
Nay'dini'aa Na' Kayax
Category: 
Land Stewardship
Keywords: 
Railroads, Anchorage, Matanuska, Eklutna, Old Knik, Railroad Equipment
Original Date Description: 
Year Unknown; September 28; Alaska Engineering Commission; Alaska Railroad
Creator: 
Selena Ortega-Chiolero
Contributor: 
Anchorage Museum
Rights: 
Taking back control of how Indigenous stories are being told, accessed, and used is vital for the success of reclaiming Tribal sovereignty. Chickaloon Village Traditional Council (CVTC) recognizes that the cultural knowledge and heritage of Nay'dini'aa Na' Kayax is collective, and an intellectual legacy of a whole people accumulated over time and shared with other Ahtna Dene groups. Owing to disrupted histories around the documentation of these materials, we may not always have the full information about the Western tradition of the "copyright holder" of works in our collection. CVTC wants to be able to share these valuable materials responsibly as they are important connectors to our history and cultural heritage. CVTC policy is to make these materials available to the extent possible. CVTC continues to evaluate and monitor the rights of all its shared digital collections and welcomes public comments regarding these materials, especially from those who identify as members of the broader Ahtna Dene community.
Traditional Knowledge Labels: 
Licensing Options: 
Creative Commons License

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

Source: 
Anchorage Museum - Jack H. Floyd Collection
Identifier: 
AM_B1957_005_186
Subject: 
Railroads, Anchorage, Resource Extraction, Construction
Type: 
Digital Image
Format: 
Print Photograph