Elizabeth Peratrovich
Dear Editor: The Alaska Native Brotherhood Camp 1 and Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 4 would like to extend hearty thanks to all who helped make Elizabeth Peratrovich Day a great Sitka celebration in remembering our eloquent and heroic Alaska Native civil rights leader who is acknowledged as the voice that swayed the Alaska Territorial Legislature to pass HB 14, the Antidiscrimination Act creating equality for all Alaskans. Elizabeth Peratrovich taught us that one voice can make a difference in the course of human history.
We would like to express our sincere thanks to the Sitka School District the classes of: Kirstin Karsunky, essay winners Ruby Jean Dunn, Olive Kubacki, Zey Loki Joseph; Roxanne Gagner, essay winners Kensie Phippen, Rosie Bahna, Addy O’Patchen, Koen Hirai; Kersten Christianson, essay winners Liam Laybourn, Braydon Wood, Evangelina Estes, Katie Elder with an honorable mention to Dylan Sulser; and the Skan sisters, Olivia and Madison.
There were so many excellent essays submitted it was difficult to choose! Many thanks to all the students who participated in the contest. We extend a special thanks to the Daily Sitka Sentinel for publishing some of the essay entries so artistically, and for the great coverage of this year’s events. We acknowledge and thank Mt. Edgecumbe High School for their own participation on campus in furthering her influence statewide. We thank Chad Titell, Isabelle Sam and Bobby Hendrix for preparing the Hall for the public. The ANB and ANS are deeply grateful to Larissa Manewal for the donation of the beautiful painting of Elizabeth which will be hung in the ANB Founder’s Hall. We thank all those who came to the Hall for the ice cream and cake celebration with thanks to Josephine Johnson for the shopping, and to those who spoke so passionately about human and civil rights at the event. A special thanks to Paulette Moreno, Camp 4 chaplain, who moderated the event with presidents ANB Peter Karras Jr. and ANS Grace Larsen.
We also thank Raven Radio for the interview and coverage. We would also acknowledge Dug Jensen for offering the outdoor sound system for Totem Square which, although we did not need it, relieved the planning for the event. We thank the Sitka Police Department for carrying our precious elders in their cars and leading the parade, all those who came out to march and watch the parade on that torrential rainy day – one of the best turnouts ever!
On behalf of the ANB and ANS, Gunalcheesh! to all who stand with Elizabeth Peratrovich, and to all that made her day so memorable.
Karen Lucas, ANS Camp 4 secretary
