The Russian Empire was the first to actively colonize the area beginning in the 18th century, eventually establishing Russian America, which spanned most of the current state, and promoted and maintained a native Alaskan Creole population.
ðə ɹˈʌʃən ˈɛmpaɪɚ wʌzðə fˈɜːst tʊ ˈæktɪvli kˈɑːlənˌaɪz ðɪ ˈɛɹiə bɪɡˈɪnɪŋ ɪnðɪ ˈeɪtiːnθ sˈɛntʃɚɹi, ᵻvˈɛntʃuːəli ɪstˈæblɪʃɪŋ ɹˈʌʃən ɐmˈɛɹɪkə, wˌɪtʃ spˈænd mˈoʊst əv ðə kˈɜːɹənt stˈeɪt, ænd pɹəmˈoʊɾᵻd ænd meɪntˈeɪnd ɐ nˈeɪɾɪv ɐlˈæskən kɹɪˈoʊl pˌɑːpjʊlˈeɪʃən.