Ada Blackjack

An Inupiat woman whose survival skills saved a doomed Arctic expedition, defying colonial stereotypes.

Ada Blackjack (1898–1983), an Inupiat woman from Alaska, became an unlikely hero of Arctic exploration during the 1921 Wrangel Island Expedition. Hired as a seamstress, she ended up single-handedly sustaining herself and a sick crew member for two years after the expedition collapsed—a story of resilience that challenged colonial narratives of Indigenous inferiority.

The expedition, led by Vilhjalmur Stefansson, aimed to claim Wrangel Island for Canada. Ada joined reluctantly, seeking income to care for her son. When the team’s supplies ran out and three men perished attempting to seek help, Ada taught herself to hunt, build shelters, and fend off polar bears using traditional Indigenous knowledge.

Her survival drew international attention upon rescue in 1923. Newspapers dubbed her the 'Female Robinson Crusoe', yet her story was often sensationalized, overshadowing her agency. Historians now recognize her as a symbol of Indigenous resilience against exploitative colonial ventures.

Ada’s later life was marked by poverty, but her legacy endures. In 2021, the Smithsonian highlighted her contributions to redefining Arctic exploration narratives. Her experience underscores the critical role of Indigenous knowledge in survival and the ethical complexities of exploration.

By surviving against all odds, Ada Blackjack not only made a difference for herself but also reshaped how history remembers marginalized voices in exploration.