Unangax̂ Restitution

The Unangax̂ Seek Justice

World War II-era internment changed Unangax̂ life and culture forever. Many Unangax faced indescribable conditions, illness, and death during this time – all as a result of the government’s negligence. Beyond the struggles endured on an individual and community level, Unangax̂ culture at large survived the World War II era despite the passing of elders and interrupted access to traditional Unangax ways of life.

Unangax̂ internment survivors and community members decided to take action and ask the government to address these injustices. Unangax̂ elders recounted painful memories so that their experiences could be documented for their legal case. After several trips to Washington, D.C. and countless hours of hard work advocating for their communities, Unangax̂ citizens successfully secured a recommendation of restitution from the Commission of Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians. That recommendation would later result in the passage of the Aleut Restitution Act, described below.

Aleut Restitution Act of 1988

After decades-long efforts, the U.S. government finally granted restitution to the Unangax̂ through a bill declaring the harms done as well as the financial compensation that Unangax̂ people would receive for their suffering. This bill, HR 442, made the same recognitions for Japanese-American citizens who had endured similar tragedies through World War II-era internment. Learn more about this historic settlement below.

The Legacy of Injustice

HR 442 states that “[t]here is no remedy for injustices suffered by the Aleuts during World War II except an Act of Congress providing appropriate compensation for those losses which are attributable to the conduct of United States forces and other officials and employees of the United States.”

Financial compensation provided the resources to rebuild Unangax̂ communities and acknowledgements of harm validated the suffering of the Unangax̂ in a public way, these results did not undo the suffering of Unangax̂ people during World War II. It is only thanks to the resilience of Unangax̂ culture bearers and their descendants that these people were able to preserve their ways of life as much as possible and rebuild a thriving community of Alaska Natives today.

“It was humiliating for independent Aleuts to be treated like children. The evacuation made Aleut people feel as though they had no rights whatsoever. I noticed that we were referred to as ‘these people’ whenever there was a discussion about the evacuees. Well, ‘these people’ are now in control of their own destinies, as much as any American citizen is, and will continue to do a good job preserving their culture and traditions.” —Alice Snigaroff Petrivelli¹