Galena Spring Carnival 2011 First Place Snowshoe race

March 2011 -back yard by birch tree.

I used my dad's racing snowshoes as I outgrew my child size ones he made years ago. My older cousin wrapped myself and nephew Sheldon,8, in a sled under blue tarp and hauled us for almost two hours over the Yukon River to the annual Galena Carnival. I wanted to go for years. My snowshoes untied and I tripped as the race was crowded but I kept running. I hear teens calling "Go Kid!" so I guess I was a surprise favorite. No one really knows me in that village. They gave us trophies, in Ruby we receive ribbons and award money. This was so cool. Sheldon came in 2nd. dad made me a new pair of race snowshoes, so this was a great month. Later I was in Ruby with boys age 10 to 13 and I came in second.

Ruby Traditional Native Dance Group

I am in the center back row.

This is our first appearance ever in front of an audience on Aug. 3, 2011. It is the Centennial of Ruby's founding this year and this was when our village hosted an environmental tribal summit of several hundred.

Ruby boys

Here is a summer shot of boys hanging out at my yard playing zombie tag.

Snowshoe season coming up.

Sunny,slippery March is best snowshoe month. 

My little Centennial farm

David and Nancy left for Australia and New Zealand's summer. I got left holding the 'feed' bag and some fowl feathered friends. Not for long, the ducks seem twice the size of wild ones and will soon be September dinner. The baby chicks are even growing despite the rainy cold nights. They are penned within our garden spot.

YRITWC Summit 2011

The adults forgot to bring the Native drum and the other guys didn't show when we had a 10 am performance (our second ever) of the Ruby Traditional Native Dance Group. So my feet had to provide the drumbeat and the girls sang the Athabascan song from WW II era "Goodbye My Sonny." This was in  a large tent here in Ruby of  the Yukon River Inter Tribal Watershed Council attendees from 70 Canadian and Alaska tribes. They meet every two years and protect the Yukon River's health. I can't wait to perform again, it was fun. My sister is the tall right one. Mom helped sew the regalia, she didn't have time to finish beading moccasins, so dotted the moosehide patch with colored Sharpies for the show!

The boys rock

Nummies and Sheldon did great. They don't get a leather vest until they grow more. This was before our first ever performance. Hundreds cheered us on. Maybe we can get good enough to go to AFN conference.

A hidden gem on the Yukon

Hey, my new wheels-Ruby style. At least it was new-to me. I joke. This was hidden for decades in a shed and is off to the Kenai. I helped David dig out all kinds of old stuff all summer on his new properties full of old crap.

Don't let your life depend on these!

Unless you are a leprechaun who needs 21 inch snowshoes. These were made by Dad for donating to a July 4th Race Raffle and it is his very first pair he ever made in this small unusable size. Good for decorating a wall though. He only used floss and imitation sinew, no moose footing. He had to build a small frame bender for them.

Ice Age Spear

Found this on a chilly walk hanging from a roof.

Proof of Aliens in Alaska

Sheldon at 8 years old is a funny character. He invented this snowshoe pattern in our garden.