Sitka display about missionaries destroying Native culture flagged by Trump’s ‘improper ideology’ review

Staff member declares "replacement needed” for sign at Russian Bishop’s House, according to The Washington Post

Visitors examine an exhibit at the Russian Bishop’s House at Sitka National Historical Park. (Sitka National Historical Park photo)

A display at a Sitka historical site referencing mistreatment of Alaska Natives by missionaries has been flagged as part of President Donald Trump's demand that national park facilities remove “improper ideology,” The Washington Post reported on Friday.

An executive order by Trump in March demanded National Park Service employees review all materials and flag content that "inappropriately disparage Americans.” The Department of the Interior subsequently expanded the scope of the review, including allowing the public to provide input.

The Post’s story on Friday reports "National parks employees have raised the idea of removing books on slavery, Native Americans and George Washington from their gift shops as part of Trump officials’ efforts to scrub these popular sites of ‘corrosive ideology.’"

The newspaper reports staff at many locations were sparse or hesitant in their recommendations. But the story declares "others appeared to support change" and references the Sitka site.

"One staffer wrote ‘replacement needed’ for a sign at Russian Bishop’s House at Sitka National Monument," the story notes. "The sign explains that missionaries worked to destroy indigenous cultures and languages across Alaska."

Staff at the Sitka National Historical Park said they were not authorized to speak about the matter and a regional National Park Service spokesperson did not respond to inquiries Friday.

Trump’s order would also apply to Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. A person answering the phone at the park’s listed number said Friday they could not discuss whether any material had been flagged and that a spokesperson for the park is not available until Monday.

The president’s mandate to national parks is part of a full-scale effort to eliminate materials and policies he finds objectionable. Locally that has resulted in the removal of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) content by the University of Alaska Southeast and the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council in response to threats to withhold funding (which has happened to some degree nonetheless).

• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.