Yukegtaaraak allows Delta to honor positive role models

LEAH WALSH

April 28, 2008 at 9:29AM AKST

For The Tundra Drums

The Tundra Women’s Coalition will celebrate two incredible role models who take pride in being a part of our Y-K Delta community.

TWC’s Seventh Annual Yukegtaaraak Celebration will be held on Saturday, April 26, at the Cultural Center.

Yukegtaaraak, translated as "People of the Year," is an annual event that honors two people from our region whose lives have impacted our community in positive ways.

Looking at the people who have received this award over the last seven years, one can easily realize that these men and women are ripple makers. They are people who, because of their love, commitment and strong example, allow others to find the courage to follow boldly in their footsteps.

We are proud to announce that this year’s 2008 Yukegtaaraak award recipients are Blanche Jacobs and Rep. Mary Nelson.

Blanche Jacobs

Moving here from Philadelphia, Jacobs initially came to the Y-K Delta as a Vista volunteer in the early 1960s. She was placed in the village of Kongiganak.

Some might imagine that she felt out of her element after moving from a big city, but it was here that Jacobs obtained a deep respect and love for the old ways of Yup’ik village life.

"It was the best place on Earth that they could have put me," said Jacobs of her time in Kong.

She was disappointed that there was no encouragement from the Vista program for the volunteers to learn Yup’ik but she did her best to learn as much as she could.

"The kids were my teachers," she said. "I carried around a piece of paper with me and I wrote down all of the sounds that I heard."

Jacobs still holds the desire to learn Yup’ik. Since her time in Kong, Jacobs has raised three sons of whom she is very proud.

Jacobs works as a victim-witness paralegal in the Bethel district attorney’s office. She has been serving in this position since 1989.

In his Yukegtaaraak nomination form, Lance Joanis described Blanche’s dedication to her community as "transparent and immediately evident whenever you speak to her about either the problems faced or the good things in the Y-K Delta. '85 Blanche works daily to ensure every person, particularly victims of crime, know they have worth, and they matter."

"I believe Blanche exemplifies the character and qualities the TWC Annual Yukegtaaq Person of the Year should exemplify," Joanis concluded.

Here at TWC we strongly agree.

Mary Nelson

Bethel’s retiring legislator spent her childhood growing-up in Kwethluk, Tuntutuliak, Platinum and Bethel. Living off the river, she spent a lot of time with her family fishing for subsistence and commercial salmon.

In 1998, after Nelson worked as a legislative intern for one session in Juneau, she was elected as the representative for the Y-K Delta (District 38) at the age of 24. In this position she dedicates herself to giving a voice to rural Alaskans – helping others to understand the complexity of our region, its cultural diversity and the political interests of its residents.

In large legislative halls where many of us would be scared to raise our voices, Nelson’s voice is heard.

For Nelson, it is her family that sustains her and gives her life. Mary and her husband, Joe Nelson, have three sons and have just welcomed a new baby girl into the world, Nora Shine Ikamtuk. As a mother, she believes that the core Yup’ik values are very important to pass on to future generations.

Mary Pete shone a bright light on Nelson’s work though the words she shared on her Yukegtaaraak nomination form.

Nelson "has effectively served and represented the Y-K Delta (District 38) for 10 years, continually puts Yup’ik culture and society in a positive light and celebrates all Alaska Native cultures," Pete wrote.

Nelson will be stepping down from her representative position at the end of her term. Here at TWC we know we will miss her strong voice advocating for our region. We are honored to have her as a Yukegtaaq – Person of the Year.

Yukegtaaraak is your chance to come hear these amazing women speak, share a delicious meal with other community members and support the Tundra Women’s Coalition.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 26. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person.

A special offer is also available for those interested in purchasing TWC membership, such that a ticket and membership are only $40.

Tickets are available at TWC, telephone 543-3444 or (800) 478-7799, or at the door.

Leah Walsh works at Tundra Women’s Coalition in Bethel.