What does it mean to be a ‘true Alaskan?’

Many people like to use the term “true Alaskan” to describe people who do things people think Alaskans do. I’ve heard it when I tell people that I grew up dog sledding. I’ve heard it when I send pictures of the hikes my husband and I do to his family. However, I think each of these have an aspect of what it means to be a true Alaskan.

Alaska is a different state. It is a state where we are fixated on a title like being a true Alaskan. I’ve never heard people from other states trying to define themselves by saying they are a “true Michigander” or a “true Vermontian.” People from Alaska are usually so proud of how long they have lived here. I often have conversations with strangers and one of the first things they will tell me is what year they moved to Alaska or — if they were born here — how many years they have stayed true to the state by residing here.

Why do people care about this term? It’s a validation. It’s an achievement. It often means that you have endured. You have endured the winter and the isolation among other things. These experiences that you gain from living in Alaska make it all worth it.

My husband just moved up to Alaska from Missouri and I asked him the simple question: What makes someone a true Alaskan? Some of his answers were generic like you go fishing or carry bear spray. Others were more thoughtful about how you need to embrace the culture, the outdoors, and the state. He has used the phrase “true Alaskan” when he realized the cold didn’t bother him. It was in the negatives, and he was wearing shorts and a t-shirt when he said, “It’s not that bad. I never thought I’d say that. I might be more Alaskan.”

I think there are many things you can do that people would consider to be true Alaskan:

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There is at least one pair of xtratufs in your wardrobe.

You have watched the Iditarod Race start.

Fishing is a summer tradition.

Your state driver’s license is from Alaska.

Driving on a road with no visible lanes.

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You have seen the northern lights.

These are often the things that you would read in articles with titles like “Things Only Real Alaskans Will Understand.” But how much do these things truly contribute to your “true Alaskan” status, if at all?

I’ve lived here my whole life and I have not done everything or understand everything on the lists in those articles. I’ve never gone dip netting or lived in “the bush.” I’ve never flown a plane, but still get excited when I pass over Alaska in those small planes that go from Anchorage to Kenai.

I know there are many opinions out there of what it means to be a true Alaskan. I have heard several of them. Each of them is correct in a sense. Whatever you consider to be a “true Alaskan” is how you determine if you, yourself are a true Alaskan. If you think it means you have to survive a winter, congratulations, you are a true Alaskan if you have done that. If someone disagrees and says you have to live here long enough to receive your PFD, they are also a true Alaskan if they have. There’s no one definition of a true Alaskan. It is how you define it for yourself.

This is a fun idea to explore, but it is impossible to categorize Alaskans into a box. The only thing that we can say is that many of us love living here and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

At the end of the day, for me, being a true Alaska isn’t about the things that you have done or the things you own. It is about having an Alaska state of mind. It’s not necessarily about how long you have lived here; it is more about if you consider Alaska to be home.

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