Module VI - American Period: Transportation & Communication

1.  What have been the impacts by transportation on traditional Native cultures and on the environment? (Essential)

Alaskan Road early 1900s (Google Image)

Alaskan Highway 2005 (Google Image)

Type of transportation	Impact on Native culture	Impact on environment
Ocean and river transportation (first means of transport to AK and within AK) First voyage up Yukon River 1869 Alaska Marine Hwy 1963 Cruise ships 1975 (Holland America)	*Provided jobs for Native AK *Public Ferry System created improved transportation in SE *River transport took furs from AK native groups to sell *Wood camps provided employment for Native culture *Natives who knew rivers were hired as pilots	*Wrecked ships litter coastlines and impact sea life *Increased river traffic *More than 300 ship accidents in inside passage between 1898-1900. *24 ship losses a year until WWII *Oil spillage affects environment and wildlife
Road and Rail	* Labor force created jobs for construction and maintenance *Roadhouses were established to support travelers’ needs *Roads changed animal migration paths affecting Alaskan Natives	*Connected mines to rivers *Abandoned supplies (mining/road equip) littered environment *Increased motor vehicle emission pollutes air
Air/Aviation *First appearance of plane in AK 1913 *1922 first commercial air service between Seattle and Ketchikan *1920-40 air travel supports mining equipment/people *Pan Am starts commercial air service between Seattle and AK	*Provides educational opportunities for Native children in lower 48 boarding schools. *jobs as pilots and air support	*Construction of rural runways affected environment *Noise pollution near airports
Communication System	*Jobs *Connection with lower 48 *Radio stations connect native populations *TV *Internet	*Communication towers in natural environments

 (Data taken from Alaska's Heritage, Chpts 4-8, 4-9, 4-10)

2.  How is Alaska's ocean and river transportation linked to the Alaska economy? (Examine)

Historically, economic development in Alaska happened only where transportation could be provided.  This included water transportation, road transportation, and air transportation. Communities were established to provide support to transportation centers.  Transportation centers were expanded as the communities developed.  Both community and transportation were interconnected in the development and expansion of Alaska.

Admiral Evans c.1800 (Google Image)

Cruise Ship 2008 (Google Image)

Early water transportation happened on the major rivers.  Riverboats and paddleboats were powered by wood.   Typically the boat could travel for part of a day, then stop at a port for loading of a new supply of wood and cleaning the soot from the firepits.  The riverboat transportation provided jobs both on the boats and in the "wood campuses" where wood was cut, stacked, stored, and provided to the riverboats.  The boat captains, the people being transported, and the goods aboard depended on the local Alaskan peoples for wood and labor.  As more and more boats accessed the riverways, more towns and economic centers were established and expanded.

Alaskan Railroad c1930 (Google)

The Alaskan railroad continued to expand to meet ships at both ocean ports and main river ports.  The waterways affected the rail transport industry, and the railways supported the needs of the port towns, the people living at the ports, and the people's needs living in the interior remote locations of early Alaska.  Today, 80% of all cargo that arrives in Alaska comes via marine transport.  Alaskan economy could not flourish without ocean and river transport.

SE Alaskan Marine Highway (Google)

In 1970, Valdez became a major port due to the need to ship oil from the pipeline. Additionally, oil shipment southbound from Prudhoe Bay in supertankers began around the same time period.  The oil industry brought jobs to Alaska in the late 1900s.
  Today Alaskans rely heavily on ocean shipping.  The bulk of goods shipped north from the lower 48 to Alaska is by ship.

Cargo Shipping in Alaska (Google Image)

3.  How might you use the content from this module in your professional practice?

I teach students with disabilities.  Transportation is a topic that we can explore together.  We can see waterway transportation "in action" in Juneau.  With experience and this basis of knowledge, students can grasp the concept of commerce through waterway transportation.

Week 1:  Major waterways in SE Alaska
An exploration of Gastineau channel and the main transportation lanes in SE Alaska.
Week 2:  The Alaska Marine Highway system
Study of the cities/towns served.
Math/time lessons on time based on marine schedules
Week 3:  Transportation from Seattle to Juneau
Study the marine highway system to Alaska focusing on what items are transported.
Week 4:  Transportation from Seattle to Juneau and Anchorage to Juneau
Study on the marine highway system and people transportation to and from Juneau
Week 5:  Cruise ship travel to Juneau
Study the timetables and graph the number of ships arriving in Port of Juneau each day during July and September
Week 6:  Impact of tourism on Juneau, including revenue brought by cruise travel and port excursions.
A look at the optional excursions from downtown Juneau to other locations.

Alaskan Transportation Systems (Google)

Evaluation:  This has been my favorite chapter so far.  The connections are limitless when focusing on transportation to and within Alaska.  The information is valuable for my students as they look at their state, the local economy, and draw conclusions on the importance of transportation to commerce.