View from Upstairs

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jmaeng
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Closer to the main entrance of the Carlson Center whiffs of cigarette smoke and perfume filled the air. All these people were gathering for the opening day of the Alaska Federation of Natives 2019 convention.

Up on the second floor, where there was a stadium-like seating, people folded their chairs down to take their seats. Elders found place for wheel-chairs. Some adults carried toddlers.

On the bottom floor of this large arena, all ages were moving toward rows of grey chairs, spaced on the left and right sides of the podium. People gave thundering applause after each speaker. That made the moment of silence for two women killed in a village, feel all the more hushed.

Around 2 p.m., there was a special reading from Alaska Native youth. Compared to the lighted stage, the floor of the Carlson Center seemed dark. Members of the crowd listened with intent as the panelists up on stage discussed solutions to problems in their villages. As the parents listened to the discussion, some kids lost their patience and roamed around.

Public safety in rural Alaska was the focus of the group. Panelists discussing that included Amanda Price, the state commissioner of public safety; state Sen. Donny Olson and Rep.   Chuck Kopp, the Co-Chairs of a legislative Public Safety work group, Bryan Schroder, U.S. attorney for Alaska. Sen. Lisa Murkowski took part by video tele-conference, discussing how to keep the community safe. At the end of the discussion, panelists took questions from the audience.

Special Agent Jeffery Peterson, of the Justice Department’s Anchorage Field Office joined U.S. Attorney Shroder on stage for a panel on violence against Native women and children. Others taking part included: Colonel Barry Wilson, director of the Alaska State Troopers, Anchorage Police Chief Justin Doll, Fairbanks Police Chief Nancy Reeder, Anna Sattler David, producer of Anna’s Alaska; and journalist Kyle Hopkins, Anchorage Daily News/ ProPublica. Some of the men wore suits, others just wore dress shirts with a tie, black trousers and black dress shoes. The women wore skirts or slacks with heels, and nicely pressed blazers. People on the main floor were able to ask the panel questions.  

The program was very hard to hear at times because panelists voices were muffled and sounded very monotone. Others present in the big arena wandered around, scents of perfume and cigarette smoke remained strong. .

Shortly after 4 p.m., there was a presentation by a Native member of the band Portugal The Man. The room was pitch dark. As a video played on a large screen hanging behind the stage, the band member spoke at the podium. He wore a colorful traditional kuspuk as he talked about how important it is representing Native culture.  

Next, there was a special performance by Byron Nicholai, who sang Portugal The Man song Sleep Forever,’   translating it into Yup’ik.  

 

About jmaeng

Jung Woo Maeng was born in Seoul, South Korea, and was born with Cerebral Palsy. She immigrated to the United States when she was 2 years old. Despite her condition, Jung Woo’s strong perseverance has led her to the University of Alaska Fairbanks where she pursues a B.A. in Communications with a minor in Justice. Some of her hobbies are watching movies and spending time with her dog, Greyson.