Creole Privileges

From historic Russian American Company Regulations and Privileges for Creoles, meaning mixed Russian and Native blood, from February 28, 1822.

• Creoles will be encouraged not to follow savage ways
• Creoles who are not legitimized are citizens of the colonies and are therefore Russian subjects. They have all the rights of laws and must obey them
• Creoles must apply, in writing, to the Company Office in order to change residence. Transferring residences without permission will lead to a charge of vagrancy
• Education –
  • Creoles are obliged to the company for their education and must serve the company for twenty-nine years
  • Creoles educated to a craft at Company expense will fit into the following categories – 
    • From birth to age 16 they will be treated as apprentices
    • From ages 16 to 20 they will be assigned to occupations and will be provided with the necessities appropriate to the positions they occupy
• Compensation –
  • From ages 20 to 29 they are to receive salaries from $50.00 to $175.00 per year including clothing and food 
  • Each Creole will receive 1/2 to 1 pound flour per month free
• Rank –
  • Creoles educated to an art or science will be treated as students –
    • Each pupil will receive: one set warm gray woolen clothing, one set summer clothing made of ticking, 3 fur hats, 3 lined shirts, one cap, one set leggings
    • Each student will receive 10 pounds flour per month, five pounds of groats per month, and five pounds peas per month
    • Each student will receive necessary ink, pencils, etc
  • Creoles in the Company Service can become clerks or office managers
  • Creoles in the Company Service can, in special cases, be given privileges and titles

Those Creoles Who Do Not Enter Company Service

• Those Creoles not in Company Service may go in hunting expeditions with their relatives, but they must participate according to the rules
• Those Creoles not in Company Service must not ask the company for assistance in food, clothing or other privileges
• A charge of laziness or vagrancy on the part of Creoles not in the Company Service will result in one year’s service
• Those Creoles not in Company Service will be granted free medical care in an emergency