Pictured here is a chief's house in the abandoned Tlingit village of Cape Fox. This photo was taken in 1899 by members of the Harriman Alaska Expedition, who had embarked on a two-month survey of the coastline. The prominent totem pole, thought to depict a series of bears, is exquisite in design. These immense carvings typically reference kinship, events, and shared histories.

17 years after the US purchased Alaska, the Organic Act of 1884 was passed, establishing a government, though one that excluded Native Alaskans. While the legislation did not resolve land claims, it did state that Indigenous peoples "shall not be disturbed in the possession of any lands actually in their use or occupation". However, Congress reserved the right to define how land titles might be acquired in the future.

Historic photos showing life in Alaska's remote past