Burton K Wheeler
Moderator
My scenario is, the Russian Empire hangs on the Alaska into the 20th Century. Gold is discovered as OTL, leading to immigration from Russia as well as some from the US & elsewhere tho less than OTL. This boosts the 'white' population and starts a mineral extraction economy.
In 1918 the Reds fail to take hold in Alaska, perhaps the leaders all die of cerebral hemmorage or something. The US and Britain cant tolerate a Red province in North America. So, a breakaway republic is established, subsidized by the US at some barely adequate level.
That seems most likely. About 20,000 White exiles hoping to make it to the US or Canada, 100,000 natives, oil extraction and mining industry run by US and Canadian companies for the benefit of a few Russian oligarchs who live in New York with their Alaskan citizenship.