People interested in Alaska   ----

There is much happening here.

Friday evening we went to a University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) hockey game.  The opponents were from Denver University.  Fairbanks won with 20 seconds lift in over time by a score of 3 to 2.  This is the first time we have ever been to a hockey game.  It would have been nice to have Nathan Luitjens with us to explain what was happening.  We could, of course, watch the puck (most of the time) and see scores, but there was much we did not understand.

The mascot of UAF is Nanook, or a polar bear.  The Native Alaskans considered the polar bear to be almost human and if hunters would show proper respect to a bear they had killed that bear would allow the hunters to have success when hunting another polar bear.  If they did not show proper respect to the dead bear then he would not allow the hunters to come near any more bears.

Between the first and second periods kids 4-6 years old played a bit of a game.

Saturday afternoon we went to Fairbanks Friendship Day.  Any of the various cultures in Fairbanks could present something of their homeland.  We saw Moroccan dancers, Argentine Tango, Mandarin duet, break dancers, Cuban dance and many others.  They also had food for sale from some of those places.  Can you tell which ones we took pictures of?

Saturday evening the Fairbanks Community band gave a performance.  One of the things Elva and I try to notice is whether or not we see anyone that we know as we are out and about.  There were actually three people at the band performance that we knew.  They were from the Presbyterian Church.

One nice thing here is that if you wish to see the sunrise you don't have to get up early!  This was about 9:15 Monday morning while we were volunteering (below).

In Fairbanks this week the Alaskan Federation of Natives (AFN) is having their convention.  Actually, that is the second half of the week and the first half is Elders and Youth Convention.  Elva and I volunteered for that Monday morning.  I was surprised at the Christian emphasis.  They had an opening prayer.  The men who presented the flags prayed together before their presentation.  One of the speakers spoke through Skype.  He is the first Native Alaskan to be a pro basketball player.  He plays for the Boston Celtics and called from Boston.  

This man drummed and together he and his uncle did a native Athabascan dance.  There are about twenty language groups in Alaska.  The Athabascans are native to the area around Fairbanks.

The purpose of the Elders and Youth Convention is to have the opportunity for the youth to hear the wisdom of the Elders.  Of course, in times past is was essential for the wisdom of the elders to be passed to those younger so they could survive the harsh conditions of Alaska.  So at the convention they had about 90 minutes to do what the picture above says.  All around the convention floor (actually the same floor where we had seen the hockey game a few evenings earlier) were groups of youth gathered around an elder.

In each of the table groups above there are several girls listening to an elder.  Elder is not necessarily real old but older than the youth.  In the picture just above this paragraph it appears that the elder is in her 40's.

In this picture you cannot see the elder because he is surrounded by so many youth.  The kids listened very attentively.  They seemed eager to hear what the Elder had to say.

To volunteer at this event we had to become "Golden Heart Greeters."  Fairbanks claims to be the Golden Heart of Alaska.  Various of us were stationed at entrances and welcomed those coming to the convention

Each greeter was loaned one of these to identify ourselves as official greeters.

Thanks for your interest.  If you have any questions please ask.

From Alaska

The far north Evers