What happens when a soldier meets a nurse; Willie Hensley signs books in Barrow
Saturday, April 25, 2009 at 11:34PM ;)
Over half a century ago, when Savik Ahmaogak was stationed at Fort Richardson in Anchorage, he saw Myrna, who was working at the Alaska Native hospital, dressed in her white dress and white cap. "Wow!" he remembers.
Today, the couple celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary. Here they are, about to have a lunchtime breakfast at Osaka Restaurant in Barrow.
;)
Later, children and grandchildren hosted a dinner for them. Afterward, KBRW's famous "Birthday Program" came on the radio. Each day for one hour, people from all across the Arctic Slope call in to give birthday and anniversary greetings to friends and relatives.
Here, granddaughter Kellen is on the phone, sending her grandparents a happy anniversary over the radio, as they listen in the next room.
Kellen leans against her Dad, Allen Snow. Savik and Myrna's daughter Corrina listens from the couch.
;)
James and Kellen hug their grandparents goodbye. Thank you, Savik and Myrna, for rescuing me from the expensive hotel, for always being good hosts and treating me like family.
;)
Willie Hensley, Iñupiat land claims activist from Kotzebue, who has been one of Alaska's strongest leaders, especially on Native issues, did a book signing at the Tuzzy Consortium Library, where he gave a speech and presented a historical slide show.
His book, Fifty Miles from Tomorrow (Farah, Strauss and Gereaux), chronicles his experiences and observations of the fight Alaska Natives had to make - and must continue to make - just to hang on to pieces of what was their's to begin with - from the land that nurtured their bodies to the songs and dances that sustained their souls.
As a young man, Hensley saw a society taking over everything even as it pretended that Alaska was an empty place there for the taking, as if the original occupants did not even exist.
Ten thousand years of experience and knowledge, held by no one else, was being trivialized, treated as though it did not matter, had never happened.
"I just could not accept the notion that 10,000 years of our history, knowledge and, yes, religion, was somehow inadequate," Hensley stated.
;)
Hensley autographs books at the library.
I would like to write more about this, but it is very late and my bloghost, Squarespace, always a fright, is acting extra quirky tonight and has already wasted two hours of my time.
So, buy the book, read it and find out for yourself.
This is now one of Alaska's, "must read" books.
And if any of you are thinking about blogging, stay away from Squarespace!
AAAAAARGH!
Now, how am I supposed to sleep?
Reader Comments (6)
I thought it was neat that when he was showing pictures of the first ICC, that it was one of your pictures! Too cool!
The Mudflats blog today is featuring an author too; Dana Stabenow. She lists some of the books she feels best represent the story of Alaska. In addition to "Fifty Miles from Tomorrow" do you have any favorites?
I just ordered "Fifty Miles from Tomorrow" from Amazon today. I really look forward to reading it as a friend of mine here in Oregon is from Barrow. His parents ran a trading post there years ago.
MissSunshine -
You asked me a question and I am sorry for taking so long to answer. I thought that I would ponder it for awhile and then, because my old laptop is so slow and the internet connections that I had while traveling also painfully slow, it gets to be a real burden to post at all.
Anyway, I have thought about it and I just can't narrow down a satisfactory list - partly, I suppose, because I know so many authors and I do not wish to offend anyone by leaving their book off the list.
But you have given me a challenge and maybe one of these days I will make such a list.
I got my book today, and I can't put it down.
Thanks so much for your story Mr. Hensley.
Hey Bill!
I just finally found your blog! How cool. Thanks for sharing all the pictures and the stories.
:) Hope you and the family are well!
Rachel