"I'm a Survivor"-Tribute to the Community of Angoon

I was born a believer, biggest dreamer this world has ever seen
Ready to face most anything but learn that I was naive
Ran into things in life that I never planned
But that's made me who I am
I've had highs and lows and seen my share of ups and downs
There's been nights it seemed there wasn't a friend to be found
I've had to save myself from drowning in a sea of tears.
But I'm still here

('Cause) I, I'm a survivor
I won't let it get the best of me, I'll try my very best to be that strong
Oh, oh, oh, I, I'm a survivor
And I'll never give up, never let out, never give in
I'll just keep moving on

Oh
I was taught that honesty was simply the only way
I've spoken honestly and had it blow up in my face
Sometimes I look around and I don't know what I see
But I gotta believe in God above and what he's made me

No
I've witnessed pride and ego destroy the kindest of hearts
Seen how greed can take the best of friends and tear them apart
Every corner, every turn, every lesson I have learned
Has helped me find my way

I, I'm a survivor
I won't let it get the best of me, I'll try my very best to be that strong
Oh, oh, oh, I, I'm a survivor
And I'll never give up, never let out, never give in
I'll never give up, never let out, never give in
Oh no I'll, I'll never give up, never let out, never give in
I'll just keep moving on
I'm a survivor
Oh yes I am

In the previous post, I talked about my floatplane trip to Angoon-a small community of Alaska Natives in Southeast Alaska--reachable only by boat, float plane, or the barge that visits with supplies. We ate lunch at the Senior Center, where we talked to several community members. One of the women talked about her life, including her experience with a brain aneurysm (sp)which the doctors had told her family would leave her unable to walk, talk, --just put her in a nursing home the doctors told her family. Well, thankfully her family didn't listen to the docs, and took her home to Anchorage to help her recuperate. Other than a limp, and a tendency to repeat herself, you would never know she had gone through such a devastating experience. She talked about the fact that for a long time she had no memory, and she would ask her family--how long was she in the hospital, how long was the surgery, etc. And now, she is back in her home, with her family--several of her brothers, sisters, and in-laws were at the Senior Center with her--a tribute to the determination of a family to take care of one of their own.

We visited the Superintendent's office, where he talked about he was having to really fight with the State Board of Education to get all of the needs met of this very rural school system. He was determined enough to file all of the paperwork to get permission for the school to use subsistence foods to supplement the food the school can afford to buy to feed the kids. This way people can donate fish and game to help supplement the school menu. One person donated 50 pounds of moose meat, but because there are no moose in this part of Alaska, the meat was unfamiliar to many of the students. He was trying to make it possible to feed the kids three meals a day, because in some households there is not enough food to go around.

We talked with the Behavioral Health Counsellor who takes kids of flashlight hikes in the winter because he doesn't have to worry about being chased by the grizzlies.

We talked with the Senior Center Director who was able to get a grant to provide material for projects for the Seniors and other to sew--She had beaded the most beautiful raven for a vest--she was able to capture the vibrancy and iridescence of the raven's feathers. It became such a popular program that she was having to open the center 7 days a week in the evening. When she almost went blind due to an allergy to eye drops, she had to slow down.

How many of us could survive in this world? Would choose to go and help--like the teachers and clinic staff (one teacher had been there 12 years). So to all of the folks that have given of themselves to be there for others, giving up a lot of the modern comforts, I salute you. You are the "ultimate survivors".