St. Paul Island

Location

St. Paul Island is located in the Bering Sea and is part of the Pribilof Islands. It lies on a narrow peninsula at the southern tip of the island, 47 miles north of St. George Island, 240 miles north of the Aleutian Islands, 300 miles west of mainland Alaska, and 750 air miles west of Anchorage. The island's coordinates are approximately 57°07' N latitude and 170°16' W longitude, within the Aleutian Islands Recording District. The area covers 40.3 square miles of land and 255.2 square miles of water.

History

St. Paul Island has a rich history deeply intertwined with the Unangax̂ (Aleut) people. Originally, the Unangax̂ traditional homeland was the Aleutian Islands, but Russian fur traders forcibly relocated many to the Pribilof Islands in the 18th and 19th centuries to hunt fur seals. This led to the establishment of a permanent Unangax̂ community on St. Paul Island. The Pribilof Islands were discovered in 1786 by Russian fur traders, who first landed on St. George Island and later named the larger island to the north St. Peter and St. Paul Island.

In 1870, the U.S. Government awarded a 20-year sealing lease to the Alaska Commercial Company, which provided housing, food, and medical care to the Aleuts in exchange for seal harvesting. A second 20-year lease was granted to the North American Commercial Company in 1890, but over-harvesting led to severe poverty. The 1910 Fur Seal Act ended private leasing and placed the community and fur seals under the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries, resulting in scarce food and clothing, social and racial segregation, and poor working conditions.

During World War II, the U.S. government evacuated the island's residents due to the Japanese invasion of the Aleutians. The Pribilof Aleuts were moved to Funter Bay on Admiralty Island in Southeast Alaska, where they were confined in an abandoned cannery and mine camp. After the war, the Unangan returned and continued to face challenges, including economic hardships and cultural disruptions. In 1979, the Aleut Islanders received $8.5 million in partial compensation for the unfair treatment they endured under federal administration between 1870 and 1946.

In 1971, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act led to the creation of the TDX Corporation by the Unangan residents of St. Paul Island. This corporation has since become successful, investing in various business ventures and providing services and employment opportunities for the community. The 1983 Fur Seal Act Amendments ended government control of the commercial seal harvest and the federal presence on the island, transferring responsibility for community services and fur seal management to local entities. A $20 million fund was established to help develop and diversify the island's economy, with $12 million allocated to St. Paul and $8 million to St. George. Commercial harvesting on St. Paul ceased in 1985, and ownership of fur seal pelts is now prohibited except for subsistence purposes.

Culture

The Unangax̂ Community of St. Paul Island Tribal Government plays a crucial role in preserving and promoting their culture, self-governance, and self-determination. While subsistence was not historically a primary focus, today halibut and seal are shared and exchanged with relatives in other communities for salmon and reindeer. The Russian Orthodox Church plays a significant role in maintaining community cohesion.

Economy

The federally controlled fur seal industry dominated the economy of the Pribilofs until 1985. St. Paul is a port for the Central Bering Sea fishing fleet, and recent port and harbor improvements have fueled economic growth. The local commercial halibut fishery got its start in 1981, and a Trident Seafoods crab processing plant was built in 1989. 30 residents hold commercial fishing permits for halibut. Cold storage was also recently completed. Unisea and Icicle fish processors operate near the harbor, and up to nine offshore processors are serviced out of St. Paul. Fur seal rookeries and more than 210 species of nesting sea birds attract almost 700 tourists annually. The community is working to develop eco-tourism. There is also a reindeer herd on the island, from a previous commercial venture. Residents subsist on halibut, reindeer, marine invertebrates, plants and berries.

Facilities

Water is supplied by wells and an aquifer and is treated. There are three 200,000-gallon storage tanks, and a total capacity of 3 million gallons per day. All 167 homes and facilities are connected to the piped water and sewer system and are fully plumbed. An ocean outfall line was recently added for seafood processing waste. The City collects refuse, and has started a solid waste reduction and recycling program. A landfill, incinerator, sludge and oil disposal site have recently been completed. A new $3 million power plant is nearing completion. A small wind turbine provides power and hot water to the village office and a greenhouse, but it is not connected to the power grid.

Transportation

St. Paul is accessible by sea and air. The State-owned gravel runway is 6,500 feet in length, and is undergoing major improvements. Regularly-scheduled flights are provided, under Visual Flight Rule conditions. Most supplies and freight arrive by ship. There is a breakwater, 700 feet of dock space, and a barge off-loading area.

Climate

The climate of St. Paul is arctic maritime. The Bering Sea location results in cool weather year round and a narrow range of mean temperatures varying from 19 to 51. Average precipitation is 25 inches, with snowfall of 56 inches. Heavy fog is common during summer months.