Stories: Alaska Native profiles of courage

Have you heard about the book we’re working on?

While the topics of the submissions we publish may vary, we are particularly interested in stories about Alaska Natives who have made significant contributions to our people but haven’t received much recognition. This could be someone in your family, someone you know, or someone you have heard stories about.

You can use the questions below to help you start writing your essay. Pretend you are talking to a friend, and don’t worry about making it perfect; our editors will help with the final product. And don’t forget about pictures to accompany the essay.

  • Who is this person? Where and when were they born? Are they still living?
  • What was their life like? Did they grow up in the village or in the city? How were things different during their time?
  • Why is this person important? What kind of change did they create? What kind of problems did they solve? How did they make a difference?
  • Explain a specific event in which this person made that difference. Were there any hurdles or roadblocks? Did they almost give up? Why did they continue their work?
  • How do you know the person and what is your relationship to him or her?
  • How did this person impact your life or the lives of other Alaska Natives? Try to give a specific example.
  • If you’re having a hard time writing the end of your essay, think about what you want people to understand after they’ve read it. What should they learn from this person? What was the overall impact of this person’s life?

Good luck! And if you need more help, you can always contact us.