Tag: Events

Women’s March 2017

mom-plus-3We are privileged to live in an extremely diverse town.  If you can think of a nationality, we most likely are fortunate to have one or two or a small community living here.  We just all live and work together.  Our community is a blue town living in a red state.  We believe in equality and justice for all.

In our disbelief, the results of the recent election finally crept up on us.  I kept thinking that something would happen between November and January to save us all from the fact that life as we have known it was going to go through some dark and drastic changes.  So I was ready to support my fellow women who were marching on Washington in peaceful protest.

We all marched for many different reasons. Because we can. My 87 year old mother marched to remind US citizens not to step on people’s civil liberties like happened to the Unangan/Unangas people during World War II.  She was 12 years old when her civil liberties were taken from her by the US government.

Ours was not as formal as some of the larger city marches. We didn’t have speakers. We did have signs. Great signs. One said Ataqan Akun.  We are one.  One of them said March 4 love. One said March against Hate. Another said equality and justice. One said feminist AF, carried by a man. One said Tuman tanax^ agliisaax*txin. Take care of the land. Another said Tuman alag^ux^ agliisaax^txin. Take care of the sea/ocean. And one said Ig^ayuux^txin, ang^im atxag^ingin agachan madada. Do the things you know are right.

And this is not right. Unfortunately, things are being taken away from us all, but some are suffering sooner than the rest of us. We, the marchers, just knew it would happen before others realized the impact.   We all need to practice the values handed down by the indigenous people of this great land   Our people. Our values….the right way to live as human beings.

Dedication and Procrastination

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I am a master at dedication.  Over the  years I have dedicated myself to performing major feats.  Raising three children on my own.  Coordinating a summer culture camp.  Planning a secret anniversary party for my parents with my sisters, where practically the whole town was invited, and it remained a secret.  Many, many feats.  So this morning, when I still have over 100 chocolates to dip, why am I sitting here procrastinating?  I will be mad at myself later when I am running around trying to get them packaged up.  I will really be pissed when I’m trying to squeeze in time to make that homemade ginger ale.  Why is it that I am a master at dedication and procrastination?  And look at that fingerprint on the peppermint…guess I’ll just have to eat that one.

A Quick Shout Out for Volunteering

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A community is nothing without the help of its community of citizens.  In our small community of 4000, we have hundreds of volunteers who help make Unalaska a great place to live.  We probably host about a dozen non-profit organizations who provide services ranging from art and culture to education and protection for victims of sexual assault and family violence.  These organizations provide much needed services, at a cost much less than a governmental agency can provide.  So when you are out and about, no matter where you live, think about volunteering for a non-profit.  If you don’t think you have the time to serve as a director on a board, or don’t think you have the expertise to help provide actual services, think about donating something at the next non-profit fund raising event.  Be involved.  And if you are involved with a non-profit, remember to thank your volunteers and the community for the support.  That’s what I’m busy doing this week.  I sit on the Board of Directors for the Museum of the Aleutians.  We are hosting our 6th Annual Chocolate Extravaganza.  It is just a fun event we like to host for the community every year.  It gets people out of the house in the dead of winter to mingle, taste a whole lot of chocolate, and, this year, to view a one night showing of the Museum’s acquisitions for the past year.  So if you are ever in Unalaska in February, come join us for chocolate.

That is what I have been doing this week instead of writing….making a whole lot of chocolate.  http://kucb.org/news/article/the-exchange-chocolate-chocolate-chocolate/