Notes from Alex

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  • In the Mind of a Writer

    “Some stories are written on paper. Others are written into the heart.” There is something about writing that has always felt natural to me. I love to write. I love to tell stories. And perhaps more than anything, I love remembering. When I sit down to write, I often find myself wandering through the many…

  • Metlakatla: A Story of People, Place, and Healing

    “Where history meets healing, culture finds its way home, and the future remains unwritten.” There is something about Metlakatla that has always captured my heart. Maybe it is the water surrounding Annette Island. Maybe it is the mountains, the forests, and the feeling that you are standing in a place where generations of people have…

  • September 12, 2001: The Day We Remembered We Were One

    Twenty-five years later, I still believe the day after 9/11 has something important to teach us about who we can be together. Twenty-five years later, I still believe the day after 9/11 has something important to teach us about who we can be together. Today is September 12th. Every year, this date brings me back…

  • Metlakatla Heritage Foundation

    An Additional Note About the Image I also want to take a moment to address something directly regarding the image that has been used with some of the Metlakatla Heritage Foundation material. The image currently being used was essentially a holdover image while we work toward having local artists create something specifically for the Metlakatla…

  • Metlakatla Heritage Foundation: Moving Forward, Building Our Future

    “Preserving the places, stories, and people that connect generations of Metlakatla.” There is a lot happening behind the scenes with the Metlakatla Heritage Foundation, and I wanted to take a moment to give our community, our supporters, and everyone who has been following this journey an update. What began as an idea rooted in a…

  • What My Relationship With My Creator Has Taught Me About People

    Sometimes faith isn’t about changing others—it’s about allowing ourselves to be changed. Faith, for me, isn’t about telling people what to believe. It’s about learning how to love people a little better. There are some things in life that are difficult to explain without worrying that someone might misunderstand you. For me, one of those…

  • Remembering September 11

    “A Birthday Shared With a Day the World Will Never Forget” As I sit here reflecting, I realize that in two days I will celebrate my birthday—September 11. For most people, a birthday is supposed to be a day of celebration. But for me, September 11 has always carried something more. It carries a memory.…

  • The Code of the Killerwhale

    Some things are inherited. Others are entrusted to us. What the Killerwhale Clan taught me about family, belonging, and the responsibility of carrying a name. There is something about knowing where you come from. It isn’t simply knowing the names of your grandparents or being able to trace a family tree back a few generations.…

  • When History Still Hurts

    There are some parts of history that are difficult to reconcile. Alex has been thinking about that lately. He thinks about the missionaries who came to Southeast Alaska believing they were coming to help. Some came with faith. Some came with education. Some came with a sincere desire to change lives and bring what they…

  • We’re Not Just Preserving History. We’re Creating It.

    Notes From Alex: Never Discount Yourself As we continue developing the Metlakatla Heritage Foundation, I want to take a moment to say something from my heart: Thank you. Thank you for the gifts.Thank you for the words of encouragement.Thank you for sharing our story.And thank you for believing that preserving our history is worth doing.…