Molly Hootch and Anna Tibeluk

Prior to 1976, many rural Native villages in Alaska lacked educational facilities beyond the 8th grade. Students who wished to attend high school were forced to fly long distances and live nine months of the year away from their homes. In 1972, a number of Native students joined together in a suit against the State of Alaska to provide high schools in over 100 Native villages. While the case is officially named Tibeluk v. Lind, for the Eskimo girl who joined the list of plaintiffs in 1975, it is commonly referred to as the Molly Hootch case for the student who headed the original list of plaintiffs. In 1976, the court ruled in the plaintiffs' favor and 126 villages were granted high schools. This case revolutionized education in Native Alaskan villages.


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