Russian Alaska

Alaska has been a US state since 1959, yet to this day there are those in this northern realm who preserve memories of a time when it was part of the Russian Empire. Interestingly, these are people who have lived their entire lives in America and have never visited Russia. Their nationalities are diverse – Aleuts, Yupiks, Americans from the “lower 48” – yet in spirit there is something almost Russian about them.

Dmitry Trakovsky, an American filmmaker with Russian roots, decided to seek out these “remnants of a former life.” Born in Moscow, the 26-year-old documentarian now lives in California, and even he called his project something of an adventure.

“I thought, why don’t I head to the North? When it all comes down to it, I am Russian, and it is in my blood. I had this idea that I would find a local there who to this day speaks Russian.”