A forever story

CHICKALOON — Earl and Merle took the easy way out.

They didn’t work hard, ate unhealthy foods and were nothing like their cousins.

Barry and Larry, on the other hand, kept their focus on life, worked diligently to build strong bodies and morals, and finally became leaders and examples for their generation. Earl, Merle, Barry and Larry are all salmon, and their story is one that’s helping keep Alaska Native culture alive in Chickaloon.

Patricia Wade spent part of her day Friday reading the story of the Salmon to children at Ya Ne Dah Ah school, which is Alaska’s first tribal school.

The story, titled "Luk’ae" (which means salmon), conveys traditional themes in a modern format. Wade collaborated with her artist son Dimi Macheras to create an original graphic novel. The bold, colorful comic-book-like publication appeals to children and was a lot of fun to create, Wade said.

"My son is the artist," she said, adding that Macheras left little doubt his future would be as an artist. "He came out (of the womb) ready to draw. I have a picture of him in diapers with his paper in his left hand and a pencil in his right hand. He started drawing as soon as he could hold a pencil."

The lesson of "Luk’ae" is more than about educating children about the life cycle of salmon and what the fish means to a subsistence lifestyle, Wade said. By following the different paths of Merle and Earl — who flounder in polluted water eating unhealthy foods — and their cousins who remain focused on hard work and tradition, Wade hopes to help a new generation of Alaska Natives steer clear of those negative influences.

Eating processed foods and moving away from a subsistence lifestyle has had a great impact on the native population, she said.

"How (the modern world) has affected us is that we lived that subsistence lifestyle for hundreds of years," she said. "Then when the settlers came it switched to a money-based system. So much damage and destruction has happened in such a short time for our people.

"And, of course, the introduction of all the (processed) sugar and flour and alcohol. … I didn’t realize when I was young how harmful that was. I’m just thankful that we’re all becoming more aware of health."

Oral tradition

Wade’s story of the salmon, which is an original creation in told in a traditional voice that was approved by her tribal council, is an extension of a higher calling she has to keep her people’s oral traditions alive.

Her mother, Catherine Wade, passed away this past March and was the matriarch who taught Patricia the traditional stories.

"I feel like I do have a responsibility (to keep the oral tradition alive)," she said. "Someone has to. I think (my mother) would be happy I’m doing the stories, and I did read this story to her before I submitted it (to the Elders). Most of our stories, I think, are timeless, because they all teach morals, how to act and how to behave. I think it’s a good thing."

Along with teaching the next generation of Alaska Natives about their culture and heritage through storytelling, Ya Ne Dah Ah school is also teaching them the Native language, something that’s been almost lost in the previous generation, Wade said.

"That’s of vital importance, because if we lose our language, we lose ourselves," she said. "That’s why the kids in the school are learning the Ahtna language."

More than just educating children about the life cycle of salmon, "Luk’ae" also shows how salmon are part of a larger circle of life with humans. They are speared by Ts’estsita (which means Strong Man), who prayed to Creator for the survival of his family. Then the fish was shared with the village and, as Wade writes in the story, "his spirit and nutrition brought health to the entire community."

"I think I learned so well from our ancient legends that have been passed down since the beginning of time," Wade said. "I’ve heard those since I was little. … They were passed down orally, and it was about 20 years ago we realized my mom was the only one remembering them, so we started writing them down."

The fresh approach of presenting the stories as graphic novels allows for a visual element that children relate to, she said. And it allows her son to be creative with the artwork.

Finally, after spending years in the ocean surviving numerous threats, the salmon feel the call to return to their spawning place to reproduce. Barry and Larry have spent those years becoming strong enough to fight the swift current of the stream, while Earl and Merle grew corpulent and lazy.

"The importance of this message is mainly for health," Wade said. "It’s the unhealthy salmon versus the healthy, strong ones. And, of course, helping the environment. We need to watch what we’re doing to this Earth and realize how it’s affecting our children, our grandchildren. When we get to our seventh generation, are they going to look back and shake their little heads in sorrow?"

Contact Greg Johnson at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.