people moved into america, it was empty, and we are far from empty. one textbook picture of what a native american looks like and that is not how it is today. the common stereotypes. how? yeah, how. americans walk around on eggshells. like, what do we call you guys? we only want to have a seat at the table. we do not want anything more. you just don t want i would have to create space, opportunity for young people to know that there is hope. to most, this is the city of seattle. for me, this is joe amish land. my name is alyssa london. i grew up here, but i m a proud member of the indian tribe of alaska. as an alaskan native, my native identity includes as everything i do. as an msnbc contributor, entrepreneur, and former miss alaska usa. alaska airlines flew me to washington, but i m not here to be in seattle. i m on my way across the puget sound. we are really moving! to the suquamish tribal nation. these are the plans of chief seattle, a suqua
Mary, can you tell me your region, where you are from? sure, the yellow region is the central yup ik region and i m from about here. this is where we grew up going fishing. so, when you re protecting the fisheries, it s not only the river, but it s also out here. oh yeah, rivers in alaska have seen a real downturn in chinook salmon. this is where the taking place and it s one of the reasons for the productions. yes. can i show you my region? please. this is salt east alaska, and my family is originally from the village of political correctness in our communities is a little different in the lower 48. my grandpa and referred to me as his proud freckled indian and he said it was like a reclamation of the word indian, because you grew up in a time when there are these signs that said, no indians or no dogs. i don t think the civil rights for the racism that took place in alaska is as known in the lower 48. one of the things i don t think most americans know is
Well i didn t grow up, here, as a member of the indian tribe, i am proud to be connected to these lands and a diverse alaskan community that lives here. it s so good in. here it s nice and warm. that mobile is in the shape of the eye of awareness. i am so proud to meet with mary portola. a woman who has made history as the first alaska native serving in the united states congress. has it feel to be the first alaska native congresswoman? it s surprising to realize our state as old as it is. and we haven t had a person and our congressional delegation who s elected basket native. is there anything your daughter has said? something that s made you feel extra proud? i was in the minneapolis
Airport a few weeks ago. first nations women from canada approached me. she said, looks good for one drive is good for all tribes. a lot of people don t know that there are 274 fully recognized tribes in alaska. i like to say if you ve been to one village in alaska, you ve been to one village. every village has such a unique culture. even if you can see the lights of your neighbor and village at night, they are often very different villages. even neighboring tribes can be very different. something that s unique to being alaska native is saying you grew up on the river, people the lower 48 might say i grew up in seattle. we are all very tied to our places. we have a very deep connection and relationship with the places where we hunt and fish and gather. it s kind of the center of my universe. i was born in a little slew right beside that tributary. i grew up picking berries. and fishing there. i think that s why i say i grew up on the river, it was less
For me, this is joe amish land. my name is alyssa london. i grew up here, but i m a proud member of the indian tribe of alaska. as an alaskan native, my native identity includes as everything i do. as an msnbc contributor, entrepreneur, and former miss alaska usa. alaska airlines flew me to washington, but i m not here to be in seattle.