Peter Simpson (Native rights activist)
Encyclopedia
Peter Simpson was a Canadian-born Tsimshian
activist for Alaska Native rights. He grew up in Metlakatla, Alaska
, but his Tsimshian ancestors were from Lax Kw'alaams and Metlakatla, British Columbia
.
Peter Simpson was born July 4, 1871, in Metlakatla or Lax Kw'alaams (a.k.a. Port Simpson), B.C., though there is conflicting information on his date and place of birth. He was listed as twenty-three years old in 1887 when approximately 800 Tsimshians from "Old Metlakatla," B.C., founded the community of "New Metlakatla," Alaska. He was a member of the Gispwudwada
(Killerwhale clan) of the Tsimshian and was raised by an uncle and aunt, Henry and Alice Ridley. He was also related to the Rev. Edward Marsden
.
He was well liked by the Anglican lay minister William Duncan
, founder of the Christian utopian communities at both Old and New Metlakatla. When Simpson was a young man, he was one of the eight people sent in a canoe by Duncan from New Metlakatla to dismantle the church they had left behind at Old Metlakatla. They hacked it to pieces and burned it to the ground and escaped back to Alaska before they could face prosecution. (Not all histories of Old Metlakatla record this as the cause of the fire that destroyed the church in 1901.)
Simpson also was a principal investor in the short-lived sawmill community of Port Gravina, near Ketchikan
, Alaska, from its founding in 1892 until it burned in 1904. This was an offshoot of the Metlakatla community, one committed to Presbyterianism
under Marsden. After the fire, Simpson moved to Juneau
, and then to Sitka.
In 1912, Simpson became chairman of the committee that was eventually to form the Alaska Native Brotherhood (ANB), and the committee's only non-Tlingit member. He is considered the father of the ANB and also "the father of Land Claims" in Alaska, the long process that led to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act
(without Metlakatla's participation, interestingly), long after his death.
Simpson is widely known for his famous quotation, uttered to the Tlingit land-claims activist William Paul
at the 1925 ANB convention: "Willie, who owns this land?" William Paul (after a long pause): "We do." Peter Simpson: "Then fight for it." One biography of Paul, Then Fight for It, by Fred Paul (William's son), derives its title from this exchange.
Simpson helped build Sitka's sawmill in 1935 and was closely involved in the life of the Sheldon Jackson School there (now Sheldon Jackson College
). The school's workboat the SJS was built by Simpson in 1936, and in 1942 it became a U.S. Navy patrol boat.
Simpson's wife, Mary Sloan, was a Tlingit from Sitka. They raised fifteen children. He died December 27, 1947, in Sitka.
Tsimshian
The Tsimshian are an indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Tsimshian translates to Inside the Skeena River. Their communities are in British Columbia and Alaska, around Terrace and Prince Rupert and the southernmost corner of Alaska on Annette Island. There are approximately 10,000...
activist for Alaska Native rights. He grew up in Metlakatla, Alaska
Metlakatla, Alaska
Metlakatla is a census-designated place on Annette Island in Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 1,375.- History :...
, but his Tsimshian ancestors were from Lax Kw'alaams and Metlakatla, British Columbia
Metlakatla, British Columbia
Metlakatla, British Columbia, is a small community that is one of the seven Tsimshian village communities in British Columbia, Canada. It is situated at Metlakatla Pass near Prince Rupert, British Columbia...
.
Peter Simpson was born July 4, 1871, in Metlakatla or Lax Kw'alaams (a.k.a. Port Simpson), B.C., though there is conflicting information on his date and place of birth. He was listed as twenty-three years old in 1887 when approximately 800 Tsimshians from "Old Metlakatla," B.C., founded the community of "New Metlakatla," Alaska. He was a member of the Gispwudwada
Gispwudwada
The Gispwudwada is the name for the Killerwhale "clan" in the language of the Tsimshian nation of British Columbia, Canada, and southeast Alaska. It is considered analogous or identical to the Gisgahaast clan in British Columbia's Gitksan nation and the Gisk'ahaast/Gisk'aast Tribe of the Nisga'a...
(Killerwhale clan) of the Tsimshian and was raised by an uncle and aunt, Henry and Alice Ridley. He was also related to the Rev. Edward Marsden
Edward Marsden
The Rev. Edward Marsden was a Canadian-American missionary and member of the Tsimshian nation who became the first Alaska Native to be ordained in the ministry....
.
He was well liked by the Anglican lay minister William Duncan
William Duncan (missionary)
William Duncan was an English-born Anglican missionary who founded the Tsimshian communities of Metlakatla, British Columbia, in Canada, and Metlakatla, Alaska, in the United States...
, founder of the Christian utopian communities at both Old and New Metlakatla. When Simpson was a young man, he was one of the eight people sent in a canoe by Duncan from New Metlakatla to dismantle the church they had left behind at Old Metlakatla. They hacked it to pieces and burned it to the ground and escaped back to Alaska before they could face prosecution. (Not all histories of Old Metlakatla record this as the cause of the fire that destroyed the church in 1901.)
Simpson also was a principal investor in the short-lived sawmill community of Port Gravina, near Ketchikan
Ketchikan, Alaska
Ketchikan is a city in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska, United States, the southeasternmost sizable city in that state. With an estimated population of 7,368 in 2010 within the city limits, it is the fifth most populous city in the state....
, Alaska, from its founding in 1892 until it burned in 1904. This was an offshoot of the Metlakatla community, one committed to Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
under Marsden. After the fire, Simpson moved to Juneau
Juneau, Alaska
The City and Borough of Juneau is a unified municipality located on the Gastineau Channel in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Alaska. It has been the capital of Alaska since 1906, when the government of the then-District of Alaska was moved from Sitka as dictated by the U.S. Congress in 1900...
, and then to Sitka.
In 1912, Simpson became chairman of the committee that was eventually to form the Alaska Native Brotherhood (ANB), and the committee's only non-Tlingit member. He is considered the father of the ANB and also "the father of Land Claims" in Alaska, the long process that led to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act
Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act
The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, commonly abbreviated ANCSA, was signed into law by President Richard M. Nixon on December 23, 1971, the largest land claims settlement in United States history. ANCSA was intended to resolve the long-standing issues surrounding aboriginal land claims in...
(without Metlakatla's participation, interestingly), long after his death.
Simpson is widely known for his famous quotation, uttered to the Tlingit land-claims activist William Paul
William Paul (attorney)
William Lewis Paul was an American attorney, legislator, and political activist from the Tlingit nation of southeastern Alaska. He was known as a leader in the Alaska Native Brotherhood....
at the 1925 ANB convention: "Willie, who owns this land?" William Paul (after a long pause): "We do." Peter Simpson: "Then fight for it." One biography of Paul, Then Fight for It, by Fred Paul (William's son), derives its title from this exchange.
Simpson helped build Sitka's sawmill in 1935 and was closely involved in the life of the Sheldon Jackson School there (now Sheldon Jackson College
Sheldon Jackson College
Sheldon Jackson College was a small private college located on Baranof Island in Sitka, Alaska, United States. Founded in 1878, it was the oldest institution of higher learning in Alaska and maintained a historic relationship with the Presbyterian Church. The college was named in honor of Rev...
). The school's workboat the SJS was built by Simpson in 1936, and in 1942 it became a U.S. Navy patrol boat.
Simpson's wife, Mary Sloan, was a Tlingit from Sitka. They raised fifteen children. He died December 27, 1947, in Sitka.