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Students have fun, gain leadership experience at AFN convention
By Jenni Hotch-Hill
Whalesong Conributor
Every October
Native Alaska leaders from across the state gather to work on issues
important to Native Alaskans during the Alaska Federation of Natives
(AFN) convention in Anchorage.
This year, students in the UAS Cultural Club, Wooch
Een, spent a week at the AFN convention to participate in leadership
programs and events. Participants included Yarrow Vaara, Kecia Medina,
Vivian Mork, and myself. Rose Natkong, Mary Folletti, Kolene Dunne
and Julie Ayers also attended the convention and participated in
some of the excellent workshops and opportunities offered.
AFN’s focus this year was on getting out the Native
Vote! We also listened to discussion on issues that affect Native
Alaskan residents, such as education, subsistence, wellness and
economic realities in villages at this annual convention.
Our week was very busy; it began with our “Shadow-A-Leader”
project during the board meeting on Monday where we watched AFN
leaders conduct their business by discussing resolutions that would
be brought to the floor at this year’s convention. At this
meeting, each of us introduced ourselves and those of us who know
the Tlingit language used Tlingit to perform the introduction. We
were well received, with several leaders taking the time from their
busy schedules to come and talk with us. We felt fortunate to be
able to absorb how our leaders conduct business in a board meeting,
a rare opportunity for people our age.
We also learned the importance of parliamentary procedure. As young
Alaska Natives, we need to be comfortable with these procedures
because Robert’s Rules of Order are widely used at the AFN
convention, and at the Tlingit & Haida General Assembly, as
well as during the Alaska Native Brotherhood and Sisterhood Grand
Camp convention.
On Tuesday we all helped recruit new students for UAS.
Kecia and I took over Janice and Richard’s spot at the table
in the morning, while Yarrow and Vivian recruited in the afternoon.
Chancellor John Pugh, who was in town for meetings, stopped by the
Performing Arts Center to see how we were doing at our table.
On Wednesday, we attend the Leadership Summit hosted
by the First Alaskans Institute. There were great speakers including
Chief Evon Peter of the Arctic Village Traditional Council, a young
man who talked about the importance of education for Native people.
We also heard from Quention Simion, winner of the 2001 Alaska Native
Oratory Society, who gave a motivational speech about how Alaska
Native men can improve their conditions. Finally, we heard from
Miss World Eskimo Indian Olympics who spoke in her Inupiaq language
and then translated her speech into English. After listening to
these speakers, we participated in an exercise of drafting resolutions
for the AFN convention.
Following the Leadership Summit, there was a reception
at the new First Alaskans office where we had the opportunity to
network with young leaders from across the state. These networking
events were special opportunities for us; we got to meet interesting
people who made us feel welcome and showed us how inspiring positive
role models can be for younger people.
From Thursday through Saturday the AFN convention officially
began with the process of meetings held under parliamentary procedures
where the focus was on discussing and acting upon resolution of
AFN. We were able to witness more leadership skills in action by
being part of a large meeting of delegates who traveled great distances
to come and vote on important issues for Native Alaskans.
Rosita Worl was one of the AFN leaders who spent a great
deal of time with us. She made sure we understood what was happening
during the convention and that we also understood some of the politics
behind the scenes. Some might say that was the real education! Rep.
Albert Kookesh, AFN Co-Chair, took the time to make sure we had
access to anything we needed. He introduced us to people and made
sure that we tickets to the Native Voices Concert, Quyana (cultural
dance night) and the banquet hosted by the First Alaskans.
Overall, we had a very good time at the AFN convention.
It was a place where we could get re-motivated and network with
other leaders from across the state. Even though the convention
took us away from our classes at UAS for a whole week, we believe
that it was well worth attending and participating in. As a result
of this convention, the UAS Cultural Club, Wooch Een, is going to
start up an Alaska Native Oratory Society based on the positive
connections we made with other people at the AFN convention.
The convention is an annual event and I hope that even
more students will be interested in attending next year. Gunalcheesh
to the UAS Student Government, Tlingit & Haida Community Council,
Rosita Worl, Albert Kookesh of Sealaska Heritage Institute, and
Paul Kraft for their tremendous support.
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