Campus to host gathering of wisdom bearers

Submitted by Grete Hubbard
Phone: 907-474-1580
10/22/07

More than 20 of the state’s most respected Alaska Native leaders will gather at the University of Alaska Fairbanks this week for a daylong meeting to reflect on the state’s past, present and future.

The meeting, dubbed the Gathering of Alaska Native Wisdom Bearers, will allow the university to preserve their insight for coming generations via audio and video recordings. The gathering is scheduled for Oct. 24 and is being held in conjunction with the Alaska Federation of Natives annual convention. Organizers have invited all of the 23 living Alaska Native holders of honorary doctorates from the University of Alaska system to participate.

"The wisdom bearers gathering will bring together some of Alaska’s living treasures who have been awarded university recognition for their contribution to the state," said Clara Johnson, director of the Interior-Aleutians Campus, which is organizing the event.

Since 1968, the University of Alaska system has awarded honorary doctorates to 43 Alaska Natives. The first Alaska Native to receive an honorary doctorate was the Rev. Walter A. Soboleff, who was awarded a doctorate in humanities. Soboleff, 98, is scheduled to attend.

During the daylong meeting, the honorary degree recipients will speak with university leaders, participate in two public panel discussions and meet with students during lunch at Rural Student Services. Attendees will spend most of the afternoon discussing the history and future of the university and the state. Their discussions and panel presentations will be recorded and archived at the Interior-Aleutians Campus.

The event follows a similar meeting in 2001, the Gathering of Wisdom Keepers.

"We have lost about half of the wisdom bearers since the last meeting," said Bernice Joseph, vice chancellor for rural, community and Native education. "These individuals have a tremendous amount of knowledge in a wide variety of subjects. It is critical to bring them together to document much of their history."

CONTACT: Grete Hubbard, gathering coordinator, at 907-474-1580 or via e-mail at fnglb@uaf.edu. Marmian Grimes, UAF public information officer, at 907-474-7902 or via e-mail at marmian.grimes@uaf.edu.