Native Interpreters in the Russian America

Abstract

The article analyzes the formation of a special professional group from the representatives of native people (including the Creoles-Métisos) in the Russian colonies in America: the native interpreters. They shared with the Russians all difficulties of the colonization, worked as mediators between the newcomers and natives, settled conflicts, and warned the Russians about various dangers. Sometimes the native interpreters perished in shipwrecks, and sometimes in hostile attacks of their kinsmen. Some of the native interpreters had participated in the creating of the writing culture among the natives of Alaska.