Alaska is associated with vast expanses, a harsh climate, and remoteness from major centers of life. However, it is here that the Ukrainian presence has been formed for a long time, and in recent years an active and united Ukrainian community has emerged. Today, Ukrainians in Alaska support each other, preserve cultural traditions, and develop public life.
The First Ukrainians in Alaska
The appearance of Ukrainians in Alaska dates back to the 20th century. Among the first residents were individual families who arrived in the United States in search of work, freedom, and better living conditions. They gradually integrated into the multinational environment of immigrants from Eastern Europe, leaving little written evidence of their lives. At the same time, they became the first speakers of the Ukrainian language and culture in the Far North.
This was reported by Myroslava Fallbek.
Father Agapiy Goncharenko played an important role in the history of the Ukrainian presence in Alaska. After Alaska was transferred to the jurisdiction of the United States in 1868, he became one of the prominent figures in the formation of the local information space.
Father Agapiy Goncharenko was a priest, a former monk of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, and an emigrant who left the Russian Empire due to persecution for his views and defense of Ukrainian serf peasants. At the invitation of the American administration, he founded the Alaska Herald newspaper.
The publication was published in English and Russian and was intended to explain to the residents of the new territory the laws of the United States, the position of the authorities, and the peculiarities of the American system of government.
Goncharenko was considered a suitable candidate for such a job due to his education, knowledge of several languages, literary talent, and organizational skills.
Ukrainian Word in the Far North
After the sale of Alaska to the United States, a significant number of Ukrainians remained on its territory. According to the historian of the Ukrainian diaspora in the United States, Julian Bachynsky, about twenty thousand Cossacks, who were previously on these lands as part of the Russian Empire, did not return to Ukraine and remained to live in Alaska under American rule.
It was for them that Agapiy Honcharenko launched a Ukrainian supplement to the newspaper called “Svoboda”. Its pages published texts dedicated to the history, memory and dignity of Ukrainians living in remote territories.
In one of the preserved photographs, Father Agapiy Honcharenko holds a copy of this publication in his hands. It was “Svoboda” that became the first Ukrainian printed voice in Alaska.
A new wave of the Ukrainian community
A new stage in the history of Ukrainians in Alaska began after 2022. As a result of the full-scale war, hundreds of Ukrainian families arrived in the United States under humanitarian programs.
Some of the immigrants settled in large American cities, others chose Alaska for their residence, looking for a safe and quiet life. Within a few years, a noticeable Ukrainian community formed here.
For many families, moving became a serious test. People had to overcome the language barrier, get used to the new climate, and start life virtually from scratch.
It was during this period that Ukrainians actively supported each other. They helped with finding housing, employment, registering children for schools, and solving household issues. Volunteers and public organizations played an important role in providing assistance to the newcomers.
Where do Ukrainians live in Alaska
The largest number of Ukrainians today lives in several settlements in the state.
Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska and one of the centers of Ukrainian public life. Charity events, cultural events, concerts, volunteers and support centers are held here.
A significant number of Ukrainian families also live in the Mat-Su Valley, which includes the cities of Wasilla and Palmer. This area has long been a place of residence for many immigrants from Eastern Europe.
Delta Junction occupies a special place. This city has become one of the symbols of the new Ukrainian wave in Alaska. Dozens of Ukrainian families have settled here, including people working in agriculture. They find jobs, buy housing and build a new life.
Thanks to the development of these communities, the Ukrainian language is increasingly heard on the streets of cities, in stores and educational institutions of the state.
The modern Ukrainian community of Alaska has become a continuation of the history that began with the first Ukrainian settlers and the activities of Father Agapius Goncharenko. Today it unites people of different generations and waves of emigration, preserving Ukrainian culture even in one of the most remote corners of North America.
Photo: Myroslava Fallbek.
Author: Danylo Pievchev