“Purvis paints a rousing and Native-focused picture of Alaska’s past that emphasizes how the battle over land use and environmental health is a central force in U.S. history. Purvis’s unique perspective is worth checking out for environmentalist activists, legal minds, and American history buffs alike.”—Publishers Weekly
"An excellent addition for collections on environmental and Native American history."—B. E. Johansen, Choice
"They Came but Could Not Conquer contributes a synthesis of existing interdisciplinary scholarship on Alaska and Alaskan history in service of a better understanding of environmental conflicts Alaskan Natives have faced since the late 1800s. Readers—whether trained in Alaskan history or not—will find in the case studies much to discuss about the natures of environmental injustice."—Andrew Stuhl, H-Environment
"Here, in 12 head-shaking chapters, is ample evidence of the unrelenting struggle of Alaska Natives to preserve and protect their natural resources, their communities and their way of life from government overreach, extractionist industries and climate change."—Tom Carpenter, Roundup Magazine
“A testament to the resilience of Alaska Native individuals and their communities in the face of governmental, commercial, and private intrusions into their homelands. Diane Purvis illustrates how Indigenous peoples have defended their rights and lands, as powerful myths and assumptions about the frontier, progress, and the infallibility of Western science have devalued their traditional lifeways and threatened their very survival. When outright victory has not been possible, the persistence and ingenuity of Indigenous peoples have led to collaborative and creative solutions.”—Mary Ehrlander, author of Walter Harper, Alaska Native Son
“A badly needed perspective on the intersection of Native rights and environmental regulations. Alaska Natives’ status and pressures for Alaskan resource development and resource management come together here to provide an on-the-ground perspective from Alaska Native villages.”—Steven M. Fountain, coauthor of History of American Indians: Exploring Diverse Roots
