Did the Russians change the names of Alaskan Natives to Russian names when they invaded Alaska?
I’d argue, contrary to other posters, that the Russians were actually pretty brutual in their occupation/colonization of Alaska. At least in the Aleutians. They never went very far inland at all. But where there were sea otters, they’d force the Aleuts to hunt, sometimes holding the women and children hostage so the men would hunt. They had the Aleuts build triple kayaks (I’ve built my own) so two hunters with harpoons and a Russain with a gun could go out together and the Russian could make sure the Aleuts would hunt for furs instead of for food. All the Native Alaskans I know have Russian surnames or, if married to Americans in the last generation or two, had Russian surnames previously. I believe when you needed to have a surname to fill out a form, they used the name of the Russian they were married, indentured, or indebted to. Rather like when European started needed surnames 300-500 years ago. They picked their job (Smith) or location (Lake) or color (White) or the nearest import
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