Alaskan author pens book about Alaska Native civil rights leader Elizabeth Peratrovich
For her efforts to fight discrimination and stand up to the unfair, inhumane and degrading treatment of Alaska Native peoples, Alaska civil rights leader Elizabeth Peratrovich (Tlingit) was chosen as the subject for a biography by Alaskan author Annie Boochever. The book, “Fighter in Velvet Gloves,” is geared toward young teens. It is currently being sold through Amazon and the University of Alaska Press, with wholesale orders available through the Chicago Distribution Center. Peratrovich’s eldest son, Roy Jr., worked with Boochever to provide resources and personal stories for the book.
Born July 4, 1911, in Petersburg, Alaska, Peratrovich and her husband Roy, along with many others, fought against the cruel treatment that consigned Alaska Native people to a second-class existence. Peratrovich’s testimony was instrumental in the passage of the Anti- Discrimination Act of 1945, which prohibited racial discrimination in Alaska.
Peratrovich’s late son, Frank, was an original CIRI shareholder. Frank’s sons, Frank Jr. and John, are also original CIRI shareholders.
