Community Perspective
Meeting with Native elder leaves a lasting impression
Published Sunday, June 22, 2008
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Stumble It!Last summer, I went to Kotzebue to testify before the Senate Climate Commission. I stayed a couple of weeks, and met a whole slew of Alaska Native leaders like Reggie Joule, Ian Erlich, Willie Hensley and Kaleb Penqowi; but none of them struck me with such honor as Gen. John Schaeffer Jr.
I had been planning a Statewide Alaska Native Elders Gathering on global warming and the future of Alaska Natives, which is on hold for a year. I used at least 15 calling cards to locate the most traditional and respected elders in each region. When I did the Kotzebue region, I was given the name of John Schaeffer Jr.
I decided to locate my elder delegate. I found out he lived clear across the sound, so I caught a ride with his son and slept the whole way.
When we arrived, I took a crate of food out to the beach, where I met this unusually fit elder. We shook hands and entered his two-story house. Evik is a small family campsite with trees, meadows, and horses galloping by — that’s right, horses! There’s a mountain above John’s home that looks like an Indian man lying down: It’s a magical mountain. Being in that place I thought to myself: “What did I do to deserve such honor?”
We settled in the living room. I was amazed by how fit he was for an elder, so I asked, “Were you in the Army?” He replied, “Matthew, I was in the Special Forces.”
I was like: “Holy Cow! No kidding!”
Schaeffer was the first Alaska Native general. He commanded the entire Alaska Native Infantry during the Cold War. My grandpa, Trimble Gilbert, was in one of his units, and has kept close ties. I called him up and grandpa was proud I was there. John told me a Russian-paranoia story about the army and we both laughed.
At his family’s graveyard in the hills, we talked about the subject that brought me to him: global warming.
He told me that the Mayans had accurate predictions of what’s going to happen to the Earth in the next five years. The Mayans kept records of a cycle where the earth flips its magnetic poles, and that the current climate conditions are matching the initial phases of this cyclical phenomenon. It was utterly astonishing.
He pointed out the other camps along the coast. He said he’d have to move his home one day when the sea level rises. We got to the subject of Indian Mountain. He told me American Indians always name mountains, rivers and lakes after the natural things they resembled. They don’t name them after people like the western world does. After this remarkable talk, we descended back to Evik.
I got to cut up dried bearded seal meat with his wife. I was glad to do my part; it was the least I could.
He surprised me again when he told me he was one of the key players in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. When we got back to town, I interviewed him about it. He and Willie Hensley did their best to organize Native leaders statewide without the use of telephones, Internet and sometimes airplanes. Let it be known that Schaeffer and Hensley did their utmost to get a Native consensus on their claims. However, despite John’s humble efforts, the Senate shut the doors and made its “own” decision. When they finished, they brought out “their” document, and simply told John and the Native leaders: Accept this or we take it all. I’m paraphrasing, of course, but it was along those lines.
Reluctantly, John and the leaders accepted the document you know as ANCSA. Despite this drawback, John did his best to get as close to what the traditionals wanted as possible. He formed NANA, secured traditional lands around Kotzebue, and brokered the Red Dog Mine. I respect, honor and listen to Gen. Schaeffer as my elder and hero. I will resume my efforts to hold the Elder Gathering in the future and make John a major part of its voice and direction.
In my mind, I playfully thought of myself as Chris O’ Donnell and Gen. Schaeffer as Al Pacino in “Scent of a Woman,” because here was this revered military leader and young high-achiever brought together by fate for one weekend to explore life’s avenues. Thank you, General Schaeffer, and I can only hope to partly carry on your legacy as one of Alaska’s greatest leaders.
Matt Gilbert is tribal administrator of the Venetie Tribal Governments and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife community liaison from Arctic Village.
Community Discussion
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Matt,
You are growing into a true leader for our people. Legitimate tribal governments are the key to successful future for Alaska natives. We still have a huge mountian to climb and young leaders like yourself are finding the way to the top through knowledge.
Always exercise your skills to accomplish great directions.
He sounds like a true elder. Has he been selected as one of the AFN Elder's of the year?
Nice work-Knew you would fill a much needed spot; eventually.
He was nominated but never selected.
qunasiq
Keep nominating him:)
Matthew is a true leader -- despite that weird sense of humor of his! Good luck Matt, you honor your village, your people, and your grandparents well. Mahsi.
Although I have great respect for other beliefs, I don't follow their prophecy or any others beliefs. We have our own here in Alaska and they do not match any other on earth. No matter if other beliefs are derived from this continent or one to the south, they are theirs. So they can believe what they want, as well as other religions, we'll keep what we believe here. The earth will change, there is no doubt about that, and even in the western science world view, but how and where in the Native American world is context specific. They can have thier ways, we will have ours. And you can have yours.
Thank you for writing this story about my Atata. He has always been my hero. I look up to him and respect him so much. It's nice to see others view him as I do. He has an amazing soul and energy that you just want to be around. Thank you again :o).
Humanbeing
It seems that people who are of the earth listen to all, for people are all connected.
We learn from each other and others as well, and it seems that John Schaeffer Jr. listened to the stories that the Mayans had to share, for he told Matt "... the Mayans had accurate predictions of what’s going to happen to the Earth in the next five years".
Thank you for sharing your experience Matthew. It was interesting and informative. I look forward to reading more of your writing.
A gift it is to be able to meet with the wise elders of the land, its too bad that we are quickly running out of time to do so as so many are departing from us before we have the privilage of doing so... therefore take advantage for the time is at hand.
Very good story to bad it could not have been longer its nice to read this kinda of story. I bet Mr. Schaeffer would be a very intresting to person sit down and talk with. I have talked with a few elders from different villages just around town and they always have a very intresting and very informative story.
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