Katie John's funeral and potlatch: on the night before burial, dance wiped away the tears
Monday, June 10, 2013 at 11:53PM ;)
"We dance to wipe the tears away." So said drummer, singer and Tanana Chiefs Conference President Jerry Isaac the next night, during the potlatch dance that followed the burial of Dr. Katie John champion of not only of the Ahtna people, but of Alaska Natives statewide for standing up for subsistence fishing rights.
When they dance traditional style, the Ahtna often grip neckerchiefs in their hands. Sometimes, in honor of the fact that elder Athabascan women have often worn these items in daily life, the women will wrap them around their heads.
With a little help from his mother, Rose Tritt, Conan Nelson who came down from Stevens Village reaches up to grab one from one of the lines where the neckerchiefs wait for anyone to grab one for a dance.
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Danielle Boston dancing, neckerchief in hand.
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Dancing while wearing the neckerchiefs as head gear. In the final decade of her life, Katie was accompanied just about everywhere she went by grandaughter Kathryn Martin, holding the water bottle. Many say Katie was grooming her to fill in after her. Kathryn is a Mentasta tribal leader and works for Ahtna Native Corporation.
Erica Nicklie dances with her. Some of Kathryn's children also dance in the picture.
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Dancing and drumming. The two identifable drummers are Kathryn's son and Katie's great grandsons, Zachariah and Karl Martin III.
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The dancers filled the large tent brought up from Anchorage for the occassion.
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Most of Katie's approximately 280 descendants were present. Susie Martin.
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Katie's eldest son, Robert John Sr. and Robert John Jr.
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Harry John lifts his hand in celebration of the life of his mother.
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Babies joined in.
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It looked so fun I thought about putting my camera down and joining in. But then I am not a good dancer and I am kind of shy, too.
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Katie had a good sense of fun and humor. She would have enjoyed this.
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I stepped outside for awhile and almost missed the porcupine dance, but caught it just as it ended.
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The tent, from the outside.
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Just beyond the tent.
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The tent where Katie John's funeral and potlatch took place was pitched right next to Mentasta Lake Katie John School.
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At midnight, I headed back to Mentasta Lodge, where I bunked. Mt. Sanford, Wrangell Mountains.
As I stated last night, I had intended to post the funeral and potlatch images tonight. I worked on it all day, but I need one more day.
Index to full series. * Designates the main, story-telling, posts:
Dr. Katie John, Ahtna Athabascan champion of Native rights before the Supreme Court of the United States: October 15, 1915 - May 31, 2013
July, 2001: Enroute to Batzulnetas to cover historic meeting between Katie John and Governor Tony Knowles; In a couple of hours I will go to Katie John's Anchorage memorial
*Katie John's Anchorage visitation: the void, the continuation
*In 1999, Katie John gathered a host of young people together, most of them descendants, and took them camping at Batzulnetas
I pause this series until after the funeral, but here is Katie John with Governor Tony Knowles and the fish that made the difference
This morning at 4:00 AM - leaving Mentasta after Katie John's funeral and potlatch
*Katie John's funeral and potlatch: on the night before burial, dance wiped away the tears
*Katie John finished well - her descendants mourn, celebrate her life, bury her, eat, dance give gifts and prepare to carry on
One image from Katie John's victory celebration - the story of how she won her victory will soon follow
*Katie John and Tony Knowles at Batzulnetas: a fish escaped, the ice cream was hard and a Governor listened
*When Katie John became Dr. Katie John - closing post
Reader Comments (4)
Beautiful pictures. Beautiful tribute to an amazing woman. There's a lot of good people in Mentasta.
Alaska and the natives of Alaska are beautiful.
The baby reaching for the neckerchief is Conan Nelson from Stevens Village. I would love a copy of the picture to give to his mother Rose Tritt who is holding him. I am standing next to them both. Let me know if I can purchase the picture. Thanks Natasha
Natasha, send me an email:
runningdog@ak.net