Chickaloon school opens

May 3, 2005

KATE GOLDEN/Frontiersman reporter

CHICKALOON - Moc-casins thumping and leather fringe flying, the youngest generation of Native Chickaloons pranced and sang old songs in a new school on Monday.

They're thankful, the Ya Ne Dah Ah Tribal School students said, for many things - such as running water, toilets, plenty of space, a kitchen and a working refrigerator.

Through a window behind the young performers at the open house, one could see three tiny shacks clustered together, the neat trail between them leading to a portable toilet.

Monday, despite the collages of schoolwork on easels and the crowd of community members, the new room was clean, airy and bright. A Ya Ne Dah Ah poster with an anime-styled owl adorned one wall; it was painted by Dimi Macheras, a young man in the tribe who also designed the Ahtna Athabaskan alphabet posters that line two walls. Drums hung on the walls; globes perched on white bookshelves. Smiling people milled and partook of the feast spilling from the kitchen.

This new Ya Ne Dah Ah School has been 13 years in the making, according to educational director Kari Johns.

"I'm feeling like it's a good day," said Chief Gary Harrison.

After Johns thanked everyone she could, she turned to Katherine Wade, the matriarch of Chickaloon.

"Katie's never been to school, and look at her. She started this," Johns said.

The modern facility will house not only the school but tribal offices and daycare.

After dances and thank-yous, students acted out a fable in which a child learns not to whine after he's rescued by a heroic uncle in the nick of being eaten by an owl. At the end of the skit, they sang a folk song while Katherine Wade's daughter, Patricia Wade, played guitar.

Sondra Stuart, who teaches the students everything from arithmetic to Ahtna Athabaskan, had flashcards ready for the forgetful, but didn't need to prompt anyone.

When asked what the best part of having a new building was, she didn't hesitate.

"That we're all together now," she said.

Contact Kate Golden at 352-2284 or kate.golden@

frontiersman.com.