Gratitude and Giving

Flying over the frozen Southwest Alaska landscape in 2022. It's a magical environment that has been home to the Yupik people for thousands of years.

I've always felt deep gratitude for this life of living and working in rural Alaska and deep learning from the Alaska Native peoples who's land it is that I love. When Typhoon Halong destroyed so many villages and the way of life for so many people, in one wild storm, my heart was crushed.

Years back, during my teacher mentoring years, I read Don Rearden's 2013 book The Raven's Gift. The story touched me in so many ways; I felt it held so many important level's of understanding about life and living in rural Alaska that I gifted the book to each teacher I was mentoring at that time. Don Rearden is a beautifully humble, kind, gracious, and knowledgeable human being. He will always respond to an email and is beyond generous with his time and commitment to sharing his passion for writing with others.

Raised in Southwest rural Alaska, Don is deeply connected to this place and the people. Along with his sister, he has created an incredible way of fund-raising to continue the long range help that is so needed in the wake of the storm.

Please read the following recent press release about this fund-raising effort and consider purchasing Don's book, via the QR code, for a donation of as little as $25.

Quyana (Thank you in the Yupik language), Kirstie