Women in Alaska's History - Erinia Callahan

Her mother was Athabascan, and her father was half Tlingit-half Russian, Erinia Pavaloff Cherosky Callahan was quite the woman. Her father was a trader and managed the trading outpost in Nulato. Erinia grew up living a subsistence life style supplemented with things from the trading post. She spoke Russian, English, and a few Native languages.

Tlingit Art When she was 16 she married Sergei Cherosky, who was half Russian and half Athabascan. Since they could speak so many languages Erinia and her husband were hired as translators by traders. Erinia became good friends with their wives Kate McQuesten, Margaret Mayo, and Jennie Harper. Erinia gave birth to two girls, Axinia and Helen.

In 1893 she moved to Birch Creek where her husband and brother had been prospecting. They had found gold! Soon Circle City was a booming mining town - the largest on the Yukon River. Erinia started a prosperous skin-sewing business in Circle City.

Later miners jumped her husband's and brother's claim. The miners claimed that they had no right to own claims because they were native. The men eventually lost their claims and were unwelcome in the city. Erinia and her business adapted but the event caused strife between her and her husband and they eventually parted.

In 1902 Erinia married Dan Callahan. Later they moved to Fairbanks, where Erinia started her skin-sewing business again. Although Dan held prominent positions throughout Fairbanks, Erinia was not always accepted because she was native. Because of this she and Dan later separated.

Erinia and her daughter Helen lived in Fairbanks until Erinia died at the age of ninety-one. The people remembered her fondly as Grandma Callahan.

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The Athabascan Woman | The Tlingit Woman | Famous Native Women