MEDIA ADVISORY

UAF's Rural Student Services is hosting Alaska Native and American Indian elders in a storytelling series through March. The "K'adonts'idnee Stories," which translated means "in the distance time," features Alaska Natives from Athabascan, Yupik, and Tlingit regions as well as American Indian members of the Taos Pueblo-Creek tribe in New Mexico. Invited elders will share stories of subsistence, folklore, dancing and Native art at separate afternoon and evening sessions.

Afternoon sessions are from 1-2 p.m. and evening sessions will begin with refreshments at 5 p.m. with storytelling from 6-8 p.m. Each session, except for Howard Rainer's, will be held in the relaxed atmosphere of the RSS lounge on the fifth floor of the Gruening building. Elder storytellers are:

The Alaska Humanities Forum, the Alaska State Council on the Arts and UAF's College of Rural Alaska are sponsoring the series.

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CONTACT: UAF Rural Student Services Director JoAnn Ducharme at (907) 474-6433.

Biographies for RSS Storytellers series

Sidney Huntington— Sydney Huntington, born in 1915, grew up in the Koyukuk River country of Northern Alaska, a region most Americans consider frontier wilderness. In his early years, birch bark canoes, dog teams, and paddlewheel steamers were the primary modes of transportation. He used his knowledge of wildlife when he served for 20 years as a member of the Alaska Board of Fish and Game. He lives with his wife, Angela, in Galena, Alaska. In a speech given to Tanana Chiefs Conference in 1996, Huntington said, "The directions we must take to protect our resources are sometimes very threatening to a way of life for so many and very controversial to some. We at times have to gather our wits together and iron out differences and come up with a suitable solution that not only satisfies us, but more importantly, protects our resources."

Edward & Margaret Penetac— Edward & Margaret Penetac Edward ("Nugaziaq") and Margaret ("Iingnaq") were born and raised on King Island. Edward is 73 and Margaret is 71. They have just celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary. They had 15 children, 14 who survived. They moved to Nome from King Island, but have resided in Fairbanks for the past 16 years. Edward carves ivory and is considered to be one of the best. Former President Jimmy Carter owns a cribbage board carved by Edward. Margaret enjoys sewing. Edward and Margaret have been elders-in-residence with the UAF Alaska Native Studies department.

Mike & Susie Angaiak— Mike ("Arnaucuaq") and Susie ("Uliggap") Angaiak are from Tununak, Alaska. Mike was born around what is now Newtok in 1916 and orphaned as a child. He was raised by uncles. He worked hard as a child and has always lived a subsistence lifestyle. He married Susie in 1940. It was an arranged marriage. Susie has lived her entire life in Tununak. Mike and Susie have 11 surviving children. Mike and Susie have been active in bringing Eskimo dancing back to Nelson Island since the sixties. Today they teach dancing and storytelling in schools. They have been elders-in-residence with the UAF Alaska Native Studies department. Mike is also a deacon for the Catholic church.

Dr. Walter Soboleff— Walter Soboleff, a Tlingit Indian from Teneakee Springs, Alaska, was the first Tlingit to serve on the state Board of Education. He has also been on the Board of Directors of Sealaska and Sealaska Heritage Foundation. He received a Doctor of Divinity in 1952 and a Doctor of Humanities from UAF in 1968. He was the first director of the UAF Alaska Native Studies department, and has dedicated his life to Alaska Native education and the preservation of Alaska Native culture.

Elsie Pitka— Elsie Pitka was born and raised in Beaver, Alaska, approximately 110 miles north of Fairbanks. Elsie is known for her beautiful beadwork and has participated in numerous workshops and in the local schools to share her talents. Elsie lives comfortably practicing her subsistence lifestyle in Beaver where she continues to fish, hunt and trap. She grew up respecting nature for what it has to offer and followed caribou and moose by dogsled with her parents. "We always took care of our animals and used every part of them for survival," she recalled. Elsie has worked as a teacher's aid in Beaver for 25 years. During that time she taught many young children how to sew, bead and about survival skills. She taught them how to make beaver hats, mittens and beading techniques.

Howard Rainer— Howard Rainer is a Taos Pueblo-Creek Indian from Taos Pueblo, New Mexico. He is a professional photographer of 20 years, whose work has been featured in Native Peoples Magazine, This People Magazine, New Mexico Magazine and Southwest Art and has published several books of his photography and poetry. Currently Rainer administers the Native American Education Outreach Programs at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. He is considered one of the leading Native American trainers in providing workshops in building self esteem and enhancing motivation among Native American adults and young people.