Tenth Annual Report of Introduction of Domestic Reindeer into Alaska, with Map and Illustrations

Cataloging a decade of reindeer introduction in Alaska.

“The discovery of gold in the region of the reindeer herds has brought a large number of white men in the country. The large population of the newcomers have been intelligent, upright and honorable men, who take an interest in the introduction of reindeer and are willing to give their influence to promote its success. But mingled with the better classes is a small number of the vicious, some of whom have openly boasted that they expected to live off the Government reindeer, and a few of whom have stolen and killed deer from the herd.” [pg. 18].

This fascinating report was written by Dr. Sheldon Jackson, General Agent for Education in Alaska, and published by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C. in 1901. It details the first ten years of federal efforts to introduce reindeer from Siberia into Alaska, in part to help the local Inuit have access to a regular source of food during a period of decline in the caribou population. Members of the Scandinavian Sami people relocated to the territory with the express purpose of teaching reindeer husbandry, with almost immediate success.

According to the report, the original group of 16 was supplemented by subsequent deliveries of a few score reindeer between 1891 and 1894. By 1900, the population had grown to over 3,300, and by 1905 it would reach 10,000. In addition to statistics, the report provides a detailed itinerary of Jackson’s most recent trips through Alaska, numerous photographs of the indigenous population and the infrastructure of the reindeer industry, copies of correspondence, and information on the various successes of the program. Of particular interest is the use of reindeer to assist with Army surveying efforts, when the snow was too deep for mule teams.

A large ‘General Chart of Alaska’ is also included, though its image includes large portions of Eastern Siberia and Western Canada. A variety of interesting locations are labeled, including reindeer stations, evangelical missions, and notable geographic features.

Sources: Library of Congress; Reindeer Husbandry in Alaska