So glad to see the coverage of Representative-elect Peltola at home on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. She campaigned all across Alaska, and after winning the special election for the short US House term (completing Don Youngʼs term), visited Bethel. People came down the river and to the airport to greet her.
Community elders, family members, and friends gathered to honor her and meet with her. The reporter did, I think, a great job of telling us a complete story.
Mary Peltola is headed to DC for a few weeks, while campaigning to win the 2 year term in the Ranked Choice Vote election in November. (yes, Palin and Begich stayed in the race….So if you can support a thrilling candidate, please go to ActBlue donation link
newspaper covers hometown visit
Peltola’s mother is from Kwethluk and her father is from Nebraska. He came to Alaska to teach, as did former Rep. Young. In a community where Yup’ik is the first language for many, Peltola has said her command of both languages has been an asset; she switched comfortably between Yup’ik and English in her conversations with Ayapan and others throughout the evening.
Alaskan politics are still personal. Hereʼs the first lady of Alaska (a Republican, whose husband is way to the right) responding to this Democrat.
That pride extends to Alaska Natives across the state, and across the political spectrum. Before arriving in Bethel, Peltola was at the Anchorage airport one day when she asked to speak with Rose Dunleavy, who is married to Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy and works for an airline there. Dunleavy is Inupiaq from the Kobuk River Valley village of Noorvik, in Northwest Alaska. Peltola said she invited her to the swearing-in ceremony in Washington.
“We hugged, and she was crying, and then she stepped back and said, ‘I’m a Republican, I shouldn’t be doing this!’” Peltola said. Nonetheless, Rose Dunleavy accepted the invitation.
Love the last photo of Mary Sattler Peltola going up the stairs as she started her journey to Washington DC, where she is expected to be sworn in on Tuesday, Sept 13
I am grateful that the newspaper (statewide) published such an article — with much more depth to the days in a small town (Bethel has 6,000 people) than I expected. Do you have such a news source in your town, area, or state?
If you would like to hear the local news in the local Indigenous language, check this link KYUK broadcast about Rep Peltola