Similar to last week, work hasn’t been too stressful this week. The main task I’ve been
working with is retroactively attaching contacts to events for the Senator’s virtual rural tour this past summer. In all honesty, it is pretty basic clerical work. But it’s given me a good opportunity to reflect, and like all weeks, to learn. Reviewing everyone the Senator met with, I saw so many Alaska Native leaders I’ve never heard of. From various Alaska Native regional corporations to advocacy groups to rural governments, there was such a great Alaska Native presence. Reading some of their biographies, I was amazed to read about the experiences each brought with them. I sometimes forget that in Alaska, our relatively recent colonial history and westernization means that many of the progenitors of our major statewide organizations and institutions are still present with us. Being reminded by my task this week was a great lesson in understanding both the richness of our Alaska Native community as well as the institutional knowledge we carry. Reviewing all of the experiences and stories each member holds, I hopefully pictured myself in their position one day. Having the ear of a senator, representing their communities humbly and faithfully. Ideally passing along whatever knowledge I can to young folks just like me now. It’s an inspiring thought. I think of something my mom has drilled into me about Indigenous cultures generally, and our insistence upon sharing, learning, and growing – all with humility. Throughout her parenthood of my sister and I, she taught us that our Elders ought to be at once venerated and cared for, and also listened to and learned from. With that thought in mind I went back through to the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Project Jukebox, listening to some of the stories Elders like Clarence Alexander and Lorraine Adams had recorded. It was nice to work listening to them. It made me miss home and my family, but it was a good reminder of where I come from and what I hope to do, as well as what has been made possible by those who came before me. In the end, the clerical work I started off with became much more meaningful than simply digitally tying names to an event. And I’m all the more grateful for it.
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Photo used under Creative Commons from Mike Juvrud