Plant a Roe: Fairbanks

Plant a Roe is a nationwide initiative to help supply Soup Kitchens and Rescue Missions with fresh garden produce, using vacant properties in downtown areas. Fairbanks has such a concept and is in need of volunteers, like everywhere. We've been in contact with them since June of 2015, and have committed to start dozens of plants in Circle and have them brought to Fairbanks by our Pastor. We would like to get more involved long term as we plan for transportation that goes hand and hand with a more long term commitment.

Meeting Donavan in Circle, Alaska

By spending so much time in a Gwich'in village each summer we're allowed to experience many workshops put on by different members of the Gwich'in nation. One such workshop was caribou skin tanning led by a young man named Donavan. He was busy explaining this process as Penny and I walked up. After watching for a few minutes Donavan walked over and talked to Jessica (village chief), then went back to silently working. After a few minutes Penny and I walked off to the greenhouse to work and Jessica followed us. She stopped us and said " Donavan feels this process was for the benefit of the Gwich'in people only". She politely ask us to stay away. We know Jessica loves us and had a difficult time telling us. We told her we would respect his wishes. By morning I had been stewing on this and told Jessica' sister Alexa knowing what would happen. Alexa blew up screaming at him, telling him " they do more for our elders than anyone' !!! I asked her to please stop, saying I didn't want him to loose any sleep over this. I waited a hour or so and went up to Donavan and said "did I hear you say you're from FT. Yukon"?. He said no Arctic Village, I live with my Grandfather. I started laughing and ask who is his grandfather? He said Gideon. I said really, "What relation are you to Jordon"? he said Jordon was his brother. I said " first of all Gideon is Sarah's brother and they are both dear friends of ours. Let me tell you several things about your brother you don't know". After several minutes of me sharing he said he was so sorry for saying we weren't welcome, and wanted to do something for us. Penny, Donavan and I became good friends that day. When Jessica seen us talking, and then heard him tell her he wanted to do whatever to help us because he felt so bad, she knew we are the perfect people to be a part of their community and her family. Donavan really caught us up on what's going on in Arctic Village, including telling us our dear friend Bob Allen had passed away from a brain tumor. We sent many letters to folks in Arctic Village and really helped us reestablish relationships with so many of our Gwich'in family. Isn't it funny how things like that happen.

Canadian Embassy Visit

Our five day experience in Washington DC began on Sat. the 13th. We had a series of meetings on Sat. and Sun. preparing us for lobbying that Mon. through Weds.
Monday evening the whole Alaskan Wilderness League was invited to the Canadian Embassy for a thank you meal. We were told that our entire group had went through a background check the week before, insuring their safety from us.
The whole experience was nothing this carpenter from Michigan's farm country had ever experienced. The Arctic Room was atop the Embassy, and was made of mostly glass walls that allowed a view of this great city like I never imagined. The Arctic Room spilled out on to the rooftop of the building that was so inviting that most of the evening was spent outdoors. As night fall began Penny and I realized we would never again have such a view of Washington DC, it was spectacular!
Because of the surroundings and people that greeted us and made us feel so welcome, this experience was something Penny and I will never forget. We are so thankful that the Alaskan Wilderness League chose us to represent Indiana at their 50th anniversary.
To read more about the experience check the Decatur Daily Democrat web-site, Sept. 3rd issue, and Sept 29th for articles written on our trip to Washington DC.

Lobbying in Washington DC

Our objective in Washington DC was to convey the importance of keeping a part of Alaska Natural and untamed for not only the animals living in Northern Alaska but for the millions that travel to Alaska. We feel every state should do their part and that's what Northern Alaska is doing by staying untamed, their part for all of us.
Our list of staffers to see was full for the three days of lobbying, but our group had a two hour open timeslot so Penny felt we should go to Sen. Dan Coat's office. Our group leader laughed and said that man would not help, but it's your time, feel free, so we did. Our very first experience working as a lobbyist was walking through the door of Sen. Dan Coats of Indiana. The first word spoken was " Sadie, Mrs. Gay, I can't believe your here." Sadie was a student of Penny's and the whole experience was wonderful. We made a real connection with the Staffer of Sen. Coats, and we were given several fast track passes to the Senate and House Chambers. We were able to convey later to the whole Alaska Wilderness League that speaking to the Republicans has advantages. In fact a couple of the fast track passes went to leadership of the League who were thankful to a Republican

50th Anniversary of the Alaska Wilderness League

While performing a service project for the Northern Alaska Envir. Center in Fairbanks in July of 2015, we were asked to represent Indiana in Washington DC, at the 50th Anniversary of the Alaska Wilderness League. We were given an all expense paid trip and as we flew to DC we wondered what we had to offer, we found we were as prepared as anyone there with our walk in Alaska. The best part of that trip came at the opening luncheon when a tall young man came up to me and said, " Bill, I can't believe you and Penny are here. My name is James, I'm from Arctic Village, I'm one of the children who followed you around." He went on and on about the impact we made on the children during our five Summers in Arctic Village. Over the next five days we spent so much time hearing about how James grew up and his plans for college. We have much to share about this five days in Washington DC, but our time with James is why we were there.

EPA In Circle, Alaska

One of the surprises in 2015 was the EPA now has an office in the Council Office. We were told we had to work directly with the EPA on the gardening effort and the rep. was our dear friend Alexa, who is also our best connection. I had to tell her we would be happy to talk to her as a friend, but we simply couldn't work along side the EPA. We know what The Gwich"in Steering Comm. thinks about the Govt. getting involved in the villages and we worried that they would be very upset with us working with them. We know what our dear friend Sarah James would say about the EPA. We had yet another tight rope to walk. Each year we get closer as family as we work through pitfalls that happen in any relationship. We hope the program didn't take hold so that this won't be an issue in 2016. How the EPA got their hands in home and community gardening is beyond me. Our GOVT. is far too big.

BDM trip tp Colorado

Flooding in a three county area around Loveland, Colorado brought Brethren Disaster Ministries in the Summer of 2014. Much work has been done and I feel blessed to have finally traveled to the region to help out. I spent the week installing door jams and trimming throughout the house. By Friday afternoon almost all the house had been trimmed and tool clean up was completed. Mike and Judy could now celebrate Christmas in their home missing two because of the storm. How great it is to help out.
I'll make one more trip to the area before leaving for Alaska. The leadership plans a thank you party because this will be my 50th BDM trip over the past 15 years. High in the mountains seems like a good place for it.