Notes from Alex

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  • A Short BIO of Alex Atkinson, Jr.

    About Alexander H. Atkinson Jr. Alexander H. Atkinson Jr. was born in Mt. Edgecumbe and raised in Metlakatla, Alaska, a community that has always been home. He is the son of Alexander H. Atkinson Sr. and Roberta Hudson-Atkinson. His paternal grandparents were Harris and Elizabeth Atkinson, and his maternal grandparents were Harold and Miriam Hudson.…

  • Metlakatla Heritage Foundation — An Update

    Our history. Our stories. Our heritage. Our future. We wanted to take a moment to share a little update on the Metlakatla Heritage Foundation. Things are moving forward. We are currently working through the paperwork and organizational process of establishing the Foundation and moving toward our 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. At the same time, we are…

  • Stories from the Heart: Where Our Story BeginsBefore the Maps Were Drawn: The People, Stories, and Traditions That Carried Our Ancestors Forward

    Stories from the Heart: Where Our Story Begins Remembering the Ts’msyen People of British Columbia, 1700–1900 Stories from the Heart: Where Our Story Begins Remembering the Ts’msyen People of British Columbia, 1700–1900 There are some stories that we read in books. There are others that seem to live somewhere deeper. They live in the names…

  • Me, the Storm, and the Mail

    When It Was Just the Pilot, the Storm, and the Mail Notes from Alex There are certain flights a bush pilot never forgets. Not because they were necessarily the longest flights, or because there were passengers aboard, or because something dramatic happened in the sky. Sometimes, you remember a flight simply because of the way…

  • The Tsimpsean People: Four Clans, One People, A Living Culture

    “Four Clans, Generations of Stories, and a Culture That Refuses to Be Forgotten” There are some stories that should never be allowed to disappear. They are the stories handed down from one generation to another. Stories told around a table, beside a fire, in a canoe, at a gathering, or quietly between an Elder and…

  • Another Founders’ Day Has Come and Gone

    Coming Home to Our Roots, Our People, and Our Purpose Another August 7th celebration has come and gone, and once again, our community was reminded of something that can never be measured by time alone—the importance of coming home. It was wonderful to see so many family members return to Metlakatla, Alaska, to celebrate Founders’…

  • Founders’ Day: The Heartbeat of Our People

    Remembering the Courage, Faith, and Sacrifice That Built Our Home More Than a Celebration: Remembering the Journey That Shaped a Nation Every year on August 7, the people of Metlakatla gather to celebrate Founders’ Day. To an outsider, it may look like a community festival filled with parades, games, dancing, fireworks, and laughter. And while…

  • Founders Day: Coming Home to Metlakatla

    A Personal Reflection on Heritage, Home, and the Enduring Spirit of Our Community Every community has a story. Ours began with courage—and continues with every generation that calls Metlakatla home. There are only a handful of days each year when you can feel the heartbeat of an entire community. For me, Founders Day is one…

  • Walking Through the Rain

    Finding hope, purpose, and gratitude in every season of life. “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to walk through the rain with hope.” If someone asked me to choose a quote that describes my outlook on life, this would be it. Life has a way of reminding us that…

  • God I’m Tired

    This lyrical transcript explores the profound emotional and spiritual exhaustion experienced by an individual who is struggling to maintain a facade of strength. The song portrays a vulnerable dialogue with the divine, acknowledging that while the speaker feels weak and overwhelmed, they find solace in the belief that God remains present during moments of despair.…