Alice Brown

Alice Brown (1912–1973) (Kenatize Dena’ina) was born in 1912 in Kenai. A strong advocate for Native rights, Alice was involved in numerous organizations, including serving on the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) board of directors, the board of the Alaskan Native Political Education Committee, and the Rural Affairs Commission.

In 1966, Alice became the first woman to serve on the AFN Board of Directors. The following year she was appointed by Governor Walter J. Hickel to join 36 Alaska Native representatives in the creation of the Land Claims Task Force. The Task Force made land claims recommendations and requested that hearings be held to approve the distribution of land, which laid the groundwork for the eventual passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) in 1971 (for more information on ANCSA, see our educational resources).

In 2010, Alice was posthumously inducted into the Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame in recognition for her activism and advocacy.

Did you know Alice Brown and have a story you’d like to share about her? We’d love to know more about her and about the powerful women in your life. Share your images and stories with us on Instagram and Facebook by tagging us (@anchoragemuseum and #ExtraToughWomenAK) and we’ll add them to our ongoing digital curation project. Stay tuned for more information about the upcoming exhibition and be sure to check back for new #ExtraToughWomenAK posts.

Credit: "Moosemeat" John Hedberg and Alice E. Hedberg Brown Collection; Anchorage Museum; B2001.011

Image captions: “Alice Brown w/ Lillian Brown’s daughters Alta & Lois Brown, 1932”, no caption, “A.F.N. Delegation, Washington D.C., April 1970”.