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Photo by Eric Engman

What: Original play "The Winter Bear" by Anne Hanley

When: 7:30 p.m. May 22-23, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. May 24

Where: Salisbury Theatre, UAF Fine Arts Complex

Admission: Free

Connections within community have become more and more apparent in and vital to Effie Kokrine Charter School’s first student theater production, “The Winter Bear,” set to open next week.

The story, written by local playwright Anne Hanley, and the project itself have become a web weaved by many. Initially, members of Diigi Naii, a group of Native men who develop innovative ways to promote Native culture, partnered with area elder program Denakkanaaga Inc. to support culture and education. The ball started rolling and, less than a year later, there is a plan, a script, a cast and a message.

Hanley became involved in the project after the play’s producer, Matthew Stevens, contacted her to discuss teaching theater to Effie Kokrine students. The charter school’s mission is to focus on Native culture, so Stevens’ idea was to combine the theater education with that goal. Hanley embraced the concept.

“I was really excited and immediately thought of (local Athabascan elder) Sidney Huntington,” she said, adding his autobiography, “Shadows on the Koyukuk,” is among her favorite books.

“Whenever someone says, ‘I want to read something about real Alaska,’ I suggest that book because it is real Alaska,” she said.

Hanley’s excitement grew as she began developing her ideas for a story, and, late last fall, she decided to spend sometime with Huntington, now a 93-year-old man who remains committed to supporting education and culture among young Athabascans.

Hanley knows Huntington’s story and his mission, and wanted to find a way to share both with area youth. The result was a story that explores real events from Huntington’s life through the lens of a fictional interaction with a troubled teenager.

“I thought and thought about how to present this, and this combination of fiction and nonfiction worked,” Hanley said.

In the story, 16-year-old Athabascan Duane David is accused of setting fire to the local school, and is sentenced by the Tribal Council to cut wood for Huntington for a winter. The connection the two find — both share a struggle to develop an authentic self while coping with alienation and family hardships, despite a considerable age difference — is one of both reality and fiction.

There was no Duane David, there was no winter of wood cutting and tutoring, but the similarities between young and old Athabascans is real.

“This is the story of a hero, of young and old having to overcome many obstacles, just as Sidney did in his life,” Hanley said. “He has become a wise, kind man that is dedicated to youth, and, even though Duane is a modern boy, he shares that same same struggle, just as many youth here do.”

Nearly 28 students are involved in the production, and a number of community members have become involved as well.

Local actor Frank Yaska plays Huntington and is also helping students with stage movement, voice and diction. Yaska’s grandmother, Maria Yaska, is also assisting by teaching youth some Native skills and language.

“There are so many people involved, and that is the value of this,” Hanley said. “Those kids are really the best ones in the world to do this show, it belongs to them,” she said. “It is their culture and their relatives.”

A number of the students have learned through involvement they are actually related to Huntington, and, as the web weaving continues, more connections arise. Hanley learned the school’s namesake, Effie Kokrine, is related to Huntington in a roundabout way as well.

“The more I get involved, the more I realize how interconnected everything is,” she said.

Student Elias Saylor shares the spotlight with Yaska, starring as Duane. The play is directed by Carey Seward, with production handled by Stevens and assistant producer Wesley Roberts Dalton. The play has two casts to allow more students a chance to take the stage.

Hanley said the idea behind the project complements a major passion in Huntington’s life: to let Native youth know that education is important, and it is necessary to follow education in order to contribute to the world and further Native culture. Having lived a traumatic life — he watched his mother choke to death while still a toddler and faced life-long discrimination due to his mixed Caucasian and Athabascan heritage — Huntington admits to having learned from mistakes and realizes he has been helped by many throughout his life. Now he wants to help others in return.

Reading dedication notes written by students in the theater class, many of which include such lines as “Sidney Huntington is a man who has whole-heartedly placed pride in our people,” and “He believes in the power of education,” Hanley said she believes they are getting the message.

“If this can hook these kids in this way and connect them with this amazing man, I think that is great,” she said.