Words of

At 102, Soboleff’s quiet power remains a cultural, Grace social force in Alaska for a Century by Steve Quinn First Alaskans

The teacher pulled aside the boy, whose rapt attention he secured to deliver an indelible message. He said to young Walter Soboleff: “Take care of the old person you are going to become.” “I never forgot that,” Soboleff says. “At first I thought it was a very strange talk. But it just remained with me. “ through grade school, through high school, through college, through graduate school. “I can’t forget that day. He just kept saying it to me: ‘Take care of the old person you are going to become.’ ” The 10-year-old became an Alaska icon who in November turned 102 years old, extending an unfinished legacy founded on peace – a voice of quiet power that would fight racism Twhile trying to stem the methodical erosion of Native culture. Today, Walter Soboleff Sr. sits a regal man, whose expressions of rumination produce thoughtful comments, reflecting a sharp memory, an engaged mind and a refusal to hold a grudge.

LEFT: Walter A. Soboleff stands at the Alaska State Museum in Juneau in front of a Wolf House Post carved in 1904 by Rudolph Walton. He is wearing a dog salmon headdress and a chilkat blanket. Steve Quinn / First Alaskans 36 First Alaskans | February/March 2011 First Alaskans | February/March 2011 37 Don’t confuse the seemingly tired eyes for mother raising two children, so it happened fatigue or disinterest. Soboleff leads anything naturally, he says. but an idle life. At Sheldon Jackson, he completed grade He serves as board of trustees chairman for school and high school, where he took his first the Sealaska Heritage Institute and is willing to theology class. challenge trustees with tough questions. Living in Sitka, Soboleff held several blue- He tutors students in Tlingit, a language collar jobs after graduating from Sheldon he hopes many will carry into classrooms Jackson in 1928. A fire in Killisnoo forced its of teachers looking to stave off language residents to flee and never return. extinction. Several years later during the Depression, he He sends handwritten letters and holiday was offered a full scholarship to the University cards to friends, sometimes penning 150 cards of Dubuque in Iowa, having shown a strong in a single sitting. inclination toward the ministry. It’s a life dating to a foundation laid in the It was an opportunity rarely afforded Alaska 1940s when Alaska was steeped in racial Natives, and Soboleff would not let distance discrimination: Aleuts were taken from their keep him out of class. homes during World War II; Nome Natives sat So he hitchhiked, rode trains with the hobos, segregated in the village’s movie theater; closer and slept in every YMCA room he could find en to home in Juneau, Soboleff and wife Genevieve route to Dubuque. learned they could not rent a home because Once there he completed his theology degree they were Native. and remained for three years in divinity school. It was to be their first home, but the owner With an increasing number of Native high minced no words when telling the couple – he school graduates attending college today, it’s of Tlingit descent and she a Haida woman – easy to view Soboleff as simply another graduate. that he did not rent to Natives. Friends and family members, however, say “I told the man, ‘I’m sorry I bothered you,’ it’s an accomplishment that requires context. and I said it in a kindly way,” Soboleff says of the “When most people weren’t thinking about June 1940 incident. "When we start on a graduating from grade school, he is in college “I didn’t feel any bitterness toward him,” getting his degree,” says Albert Kookesh, a he says. “I just didn’t. I just left him. I found a project, God starts state senator who now serves as chief executive little place for my wife and me to rent near the for Sealaska and co-chairman of the Alaska church.” us out in a very Federation of Natives. The rejection came as he embarked on “If you finished grade school, it was an becoming the Presbyterian Church’s first small way. So we amazing thing for a Native person to do back Alaska Native ordained minister, giving then, but Walter, he brought that presence with a rare public voice that still commands started out in a very him and he did much more than that.” attention. His response became a hallmark of who small way with three In the pulpit Walter Soboleff is today: humble, tolerant and Soboleff came to Juneau on June 14, 1940, benevolent, but unwilling to yield his drive to people in church.” newly ordained and set to assume the pulpit at advance Native causes. the Memorial Presbyterian Church. It’s a collection of traits that guided him Growing up He and his wife arrived on a vessel operated by past future setbacks attributed to racism, yet Born on Nov. 14, 1908, Walter Soboleff grew the Alaska Steamship Co., choosing his childhood conduct that would draw hundreds of admirers. up in Southeast Alaska with a Tlingit mother, state over opportunities in the Lower 48. In the 70 years since being denied a place to Anna Hunter, and Alexander Soboleff, a man of His first service, launched by the ringing live, he brought calm to villages, board rooms Russian and German descent. His father died of a church bell, attracted three people: two and logging camps, taking care of others as well when Walter was about 10, around the time of children and one adult. as the elder he has become. the Russian Revolution. Most Tlingit residents had left town to fish “We take for granted today what individuals Soboleff attended elementary school in and camp and weren’t expected back until mid- can accomplish,” says Byron Mallott, a board Killisnoo and went to the Russian Orthodox summer. member with Sealaska Corp. “He did it at a time school in Sitka for one year before it shut down “When we start on a project, God starts when it was almost impossible to do – and to be in 1917 during the Russian Revolution. After us out in a very small way,” Soboleff says. “So respected by the non-Native community. his father died, Walter entered Sheldon Jackson we started out in a very small way with three “He was right there at the same level as the School in Sitka. people in church.” people who were in charge of our society, our Already speaking English and Tlingit, As people in Juneau quickly learned of his economy, the churches, the educational system Soboleff eventually converted from Russian being denied a home, he refused to complain. – but he was Native. Orthodox to Presbyterian. He says there was “They talked with me and they became “Think of that in terms of courage, in terms no dissatisfaction with the Orthodox Church my teachers in the Tlingit culture,” he says. “I Rev. Walter A. Soboleff stands of perseverance, in terms of dedication and in driving his conversion – in fact, the Russian learned so much from them. in the pulpit at Memorial terms of integrity. Orthodox Church balked at stripping the “Once we got acquainted, things started to Presbyterian Church in Juneau “Now, think in terms of personal strength, Natives of their culture and language and grow. They taught me the Tlingit customs, the where he became the state’s and you realize you’re dealing with a giant of a respected the rights of Natives. However, history of the Tlingit people. It was a general first Native ordained minister. man. There is no question about it.” Russian was difficult to learn and attending course in anthropology.” Soboleff family / Courtesy photo Sheldon Jackson was financially feasible for a The congregation grew to what friends recall

38 First Alaskans | February/March 2011 First Alaskans | February/March 2011 39 as “standing-room only,” and soon his voice of a historic state civil rights battle playing out entire Native population under a class of folk “It still hurts us, but he won’t talk about it. became a fixture on the airwaves. in Juneau. as might be termed undesirable. You will agree He’ll talk about what a great choir we had or all Broadcasts reached people living in villages The fight was underscored by citywide that a ruling to that end is unjust and indeed of the good that came from the church.” and even Canada’s neighboring Territory, tableaus, most of them with signs reading: not consistent with principles underlying our Others won’t take the closing quietly, nearly starting with 15 minutes every Saturday reading “No Natives.” It took place a quarter mile from democracy.” 50 years later. news accounts in Tlingit. Soboleff’s church in the state’s capital. His words were routinely concise, poignant, Sitting with Mallott and longtime friend Soon Tlingit people found themselves glued There, Elizabeth Wanamaker Peratrovich effective enough to attract members from the Clarence Jackson, Kookesh spoke out for his to the box-sized black transistor Zeniths usually and Roy Peratrovich Sr. pushed the Territorial non-Native community. uncle, saying there was no just reason for reserved for updates on the war, politics and the Legislature for a state Anti-Discrimination Act. Soboleff believed in backing his anti- closing Soboleff’s church. World Series. It failed in 1943, but passed when the segregation sentiment and opening his doors to “The politics of it is it got closed because it Portions of his Sunday service were next Legislature met again two years later, a success anyone wanting to attend. got too popular,” Kookesh says. “There were two added to the airwaves. largely attributed to ’s “I asked them one day, ‘how do you feel about Presbyterian churches in Juneau.” The white The soothing baritone timbre in his voice defense of ancestral lands. inviting other people to be members of the people started to leave for his church. enabled him to connect with adults and “They carried the ball for us,” Soboleff says. church?’ They said it would be fine,” he says. “His happened to be the so-called Native children for years to come. “They were instrumental in the movement to “Word got out in the community that church where he preached in Tlingit and he He left the hellfire and damnation speeches eliminate this racial bias. Memorial Church is welcoming others to come. taught in English. for other preachers, delivering what friends “It’s more than one measure. It’s the people Not that they were unwelcome, but it was “He told me – and this is a quote from him consistently called comforting sermons, as if working together to make a better world. established. – ‘I’ve seen the worst of politics but I didn’t say they were one-on-one talks. “We didn’t say we would do this and you will “Now others were coming to our church.” anything about it.’ One of those people was Mallott, who grew do that. It didn’t work that way. It was a natural But after 22 years of building a congregation “He will never tell you, he will never complain up catching Soboleff’s services about 140 miles occurrence. and bridges, Soboleff got word that the Alaska because he’s a bigger man than us, but he was northwest in Yakutat. “We just gave the Christian message. The Presbytery and the Board of National Missions affected by politics worse than any of us when “He was speaking to you, he was speaking to Christian message is love your fellow folk. For chose to close his church. they closed his church.” Native people at a time when you didn’t have a God is love.” It came with no notice, and within weeks the Soboleff lost his building, but not his will to lot of that,” Mallott says. Soboleff wasn’t among the loudest voices church faced the wrath of a wrecking ball. preach, teach or advocate. “There was nobody else doing it. He didn’t for civil rights, but he was willing to weigh in Soboleff won’t publicly criticize the decision; think of it that way. He was just doing it. That’s with his own concerns, including a letter to his four children say it was a difficult time for Fisherman’s life his way.” , D.C. their father, who wouldn’t burden his family His next assignment was to board a converted Russian Orthodox priest Michael Oleksa with his pain. fishing vessel and ply the Southeast channels to Civil rights in the background noted Soboleff’s 1943 reaction to an Army ban “I can’t fathom how he withstood that,” says various villages. Walter Soboleff and his wife, Genevieve arrive in Juneau in 1940 when Soboleff began serving Southeast Alaska for the Soboleff’s efforts to build a church and unite on contact between soldiers and Tlingits: daughter Janet Soboleff Burke, the eldest of Soboleff smiles as he quickly rattles off a next three decades. Soboleff family / Courtesy photo diverse groups were set against the backdrop “The order [banning contact] places the Soboleff’s four children. series of villages he would visit about once every 102 years of Soboleff A brief timeline of the Rev. Walter Alexander Soboleff Sr.

19081900s Born in Killisnoo, 19281920s Graduated from 19331930s Joins Alaska Native 19401940s Receives degree 19511950s Begins 20-year term 19621960s Soboleff’s Memorial 19701970s Named head 19811980s Named to Sealaska 19991990s Named ANB Grand 20012000s Recognized by Alaska Sheldon Jackson Brotherhood. in theological as Alaska National Presbyterian and founder of Corp. Board of Camp President Masonic Lodge for High School 1933 Accepts scholarship seminary from Guard Chaplain Church closes after Native Studies Directors Emeritus, a lifetime holding highest to University of University of 1952 Receives honorary 22 years at University of 1989 Named Alaska honor honor at 33 Dubuque Dubuque doctorate of divinity, 1962 Becomes itinerant Alaska-Fairbanks Federation of 1999 Publishes Tlingit degrees 1937 Received bachelor’s 1940 Walter and University of preacher visiting 1971 Retires from Natives Citizen of Culture Protocol 2008 Angoon Airport degree from Genevieve denied Dubuque Southeast Alaska National Guard as the Year bears Soboleff’s University of place to live villages a Lt. Colonel name Dubuque because they were 1966 Begins first of four 1976 Named to Tenakee 2008 Walter A. Soboleff Native 1938 Marries Genevieve years as Alaska Spring School celebrates 100th Evangeline Ross 1940 Becomes first Native Brotherhood Board birthday Alaska Native Grand President 1977 Begins another 2010 Delivers keynote ordained priest 1967 Named Alaska State three-year stint speech at Gov. Board of Education as ANB’s Grand Sean Parnell’s Chairman President inauguration 1968 Receives honorary doctorate of humanities, University of Alaska

40 First Alaskans | February/March 2011 First Alaskans | February/March 2011 41 Janet Soboleff Burke dotes on her father while two months – a testament to his sharp memory. “When I think about it, I shouldn’t be passing out Christmas gifts at Burke’s Juneau Yakutat, Hoonah, Angoon, Kake, Metlakatla, surprised. That’s why I still think the world of condo where all four of Walter’s children, plus Klawock, Craig, Hydaburg. He also made stops him.” grandchildren and a great-grandchild enjoyed the holiday. Steve Quinn / First Alaskans at Coast Guard light stations and logging camps. Handwritten messages At each place, he continued preaching Discussions of Soboleff eventually seem to to people who did not have a pastor every lead to his notes, quick dispatches to friends Sunday. on cards. He did this for eight years in what might Once typed on a manual typewriter with arguably be the time of his greatest sacrifice. some keys occasionally out of alignment, It meant time away from home — unlike the notes receive a more personal touch – his own previous 22 years — sometimes for weeks. handwriting. When home he would be immersed in his They are short, perhaps a few sentences, and Speaking work with the Alaska Native Brotherhood. they aren’t necessarily connected to a holiday or He served as grand president for the Alaska birthday. It’s simply time to write. of Soboleff Native Brotherhood for four of these years. They remind people that this elder has the None of it brought wealth; rather it brought same active interest in them as he did when debt and a refusal to ask for handouts, says arriving on the Anna Jackman or the Princeton “It’s his wisdom and graciousness eldest son, Sasha Soboleff. Hall boats 40 years ago. that’s the epitome of what you expect His sermons during these itinerant days were “I always try to keep them positive,” Soboleff or want from elders of any culture, and as inclusive as the congregation he build in says. “People don’t realize how important they he does it with such grace. Picture a Juneau and his reach just as lasting. can be.” humble, wise Christian elder. That’s Soboleff quickly connected with one young Several notes went to Bill Thomas of Haines, Walter Soboleff.” boy living in Angoon for a few years while the a fisherman raised by his staunchly Republican — State Sen. Fred Dyson, Eagle River Republican boy’s father worked in the village. grandmother Mildred Sparks, and a man who Soboleff told the boy a story from when he decided to enter politics. “I think he understood a long time went to Sheldon Jackson: that of two frogs who In 2004, Thomas, also a Republican, claimed before most people your Native identity fell into a pail of milk. One gave up hope and the first of four consecutive victories for a seat is an important piece of who you are, but drowned. in the Alaska Statehouse. it isn’t all of who you are. It’s something The other refused to stop paddling and Today, Thomas, a man of Tlingit descent, eventually the milk turned into butter and he serves as co-chair of the House Finance that’s vital and alive today. It’s something was able to hop out of the bucket. Committee, putting him among the powerful that is going to take us into the future. That boy was Talis Colberg, who grew up to lawmakers in the Legislature. Sometimes, I honestly don’t think a lot become Alaska’s attorney general, mayor of the “Walter always tells me, ‘Your grandma is of people get that.” — Ross Sobeleff, Matanuska-Susitna Borough. smiling down from heaven,’ ” Thomas says. “She Walter’s youngest of four children The two met each time Soboleff arrived in always made sure we heard Walter’s services on Angoon on the Anna Jackman. the radio. “He’s a model for so many of us. “I’ll never forget it,” says Colberg, also an “If we missed Sunday school or church, we He’s got this quiet determination. He’s elder at Palmer Presbyterian Church. “The sat in front of the radio. Every time he came to alert. He’s forceful. He asks penetrating story stuck in my mind. I became famous in Klukwan, it was important that he was there. “ questions. Maybe we need to change our my family for pulling out the frog story.” Sometimes Soboleff won’t wait to write. image about 102-year-old people.” Were it someone else sharing the story, it During a House floor session, Thomas felt he — Rosita Worl, may not have remained so memorable, Colberg had been wrongly accused of being aligned with president of Sealaska Heritage Institute says. the cruise ship industry “He’s the first pastor I remember listening “I knew if I got into an argument, Walter “He had a far-reaching (radio) to,” he says. “He would have a children’s would be upset. So I decided I’d sit down and audience. That the greater white society message in an age where children’s messages bow to accusations people cannot justify. would allow him to speak in our were unusual. I still think of him as my pastor “A few days later I saw Walter. He looked at language on the radio is something. And to this day.” me and said, ‘You did right. I’m proud of you.’ he didn’t get arrested. People listened The two were reunited about 10 years ago at “Walter always has an important message, to him.” a conference in Anchorage. and he’ll always have a church. He just doesn’t — State Sen. Albert Kookesh, When Colberg became attorney general in need a building.” Sealaska Corp. chairman 2007, he visited Soboleff at his home during While serving as an itinerant preacher, trips to Juneau. Soboleff added to his duties four consecutive “There was a great outcry that culture He is now president of the Matanuska-Susitna terms as the Alaska Native Brotherhood’s should not be the same par as religion. College and he still receives hand-written notes Grand Camp president. Walter is the single man to hold up the from Soboleff and fires off a few himself. For decades ANB and the Alaska Native Tlingit culture and religious freedom One day, Colberg sent a note with material Sisterhood served as the most prevailing civil together. That’s one of the things old written by Japanese poet Toyohiko Kagawa, rights voice for Alaska Natives. people love so much about Walter. He who died in 1960. ANB along with the newly formed Alaska gave them that freedom.” “Walter writes me back to thank me for the Federation of Natives asserted itself in the — Clarence Jackson, poem,” Colberg says. “He then tells me he met final years leading to the federal government’s longtime friend and Sealaska Heritage Kagawa. It just amazed me that he knew the guy Alaska Native Land Claims Act in 1971. trustee on some level. The act passed on Dec. 18, awarding nearly

42 First Alaskans | February/March 2011 First Alaskans | February/March 2011 43 Barbara Cadiente- “Without a doubt he influenced Sealaska biographies including that of Soboleff 15 years The two men occasionally meet for breakfast, Nelson to grow into a more civil, thoughtful and ago. with Moller doing most of the listening to an asks Walter deliberative body far sooner than it otherwise Unlike other biographies, Soboleff’s ends elder providing guidance but not all of the Soboleff to do might have without his presence. with a list of Tlingit values assembled by answers. some Tlingit “You need to remember, that even in the ’80s Soboleff, but the elder insists that’s all he did: “Our conversations tend to center around translation and the late ’70s, he was an elder back then. collate. where do we go from here as Native people,” during a night “He never raises his voice and you respect Since then, Soboleff has been calling for Moller says. “His conversations tend to use class that gets him so highly that when you’re around him you cultural scrutiny. analogies and examples of the past for the assistance from the don’t raise your voice. “We need to constantly re-examine our purposes of the future. 102-year-old “You become more civil; you become more culture,” he says. What does respect mean? “He told me the next generation of Native elder. Steve thoughtful; you become more deliberative. You What is sacrifice? What’s cooperation? leaders have to have an open mind and an open Quinn / First listen. “If you expect people to respect you, you have heart, too.” Alaskans “All those things you take for granted of to respect yourself, respect your conduct and “He spoke of the importance of preserving being good and necessary: He brought that; he others will respect you. culture and preserving our languages. We brings it today.” “In Tlingit culture, we never had suicides have a responsibility as a people to make that He brings it to the Sealaska Heritage because we knew who we were. Now in the happen.” boardroom; he brings it to the breakfast table; culture, there are those who say, ‘who am I?’ Soboleff still does his share. he brings it to a classroom of students learning “Years ago, you knew your family. You were One night a week, he joins a group of 15 adult Tlingit. not alone. You never felt alone. Today the young students advanced in their lessons of Tlingit. Soboleff serves as trustees chairman, fully people say, ‘who am I?’ “This new generation is at least getting engaged, says Worl, the organization’s president. “They say, ‘I’m alone. I’m broke.’ Bang. I’m to appreciate the language,” he says. “It isn’t “The most important thing I’m amazed at is gone.” completely lost yet. the force he is at running our meeting, that SHI Soboleff befriends new people while looking “They understand some of it. They appreciate runs its true course,” Worl says. to longtime friends to carry out this mission. it. There was a time in the Tlingit culture when “He acts very much like a chair,” she says. “He One new friend is John Moller, a man of we felt ashamed of it. reads everything. He knows our financials. He Aleut descent who serves as Gov. Sean Parnell’s “I think that day is gone. There is no need to knows about our operating plan. rural adviser. feel ashamed of your culture. $1 billion and 44 million acres to Alaska to progress: Economics, Health, Land, Racial economically, politically, socially and “He’s an icon for our people. To me he Moller, 49, met Soboleff shortly after the elder “Never.” n Natives. Soon, 12 Native corporations and 200 Equal Rights, Schools. In degrees of shade religiously,” Soboleff says. represents everything I’d like to be: calm, have turned 100. Moller introduced Soboleff for the village corporations formed to manage and these areas are meeting solutions that in part “It was an instrument in the change to help that kind of wisdom.” keynote address at Parnell’s inauguration in Steve Quinn can be reached at 907-723-3775 develop land and the monies. challenge us to responsibility and trust. Strange people make adjustments. Now we’re getting The institute published an anthology of December. or [email protected] As a bill was being debated, Soboleff weighed as it may seem a number of these issues were more of the Native people into the educational in with federal lawmakers, including this note provided for in the U.S. Constitution, and yet system.” to Congressman Henry M. Jackson on July 12, people always had to get in the way.” Soboleff never feared change. Rather, he 1968. Working for Soboleff in the 1960s and again pursued it. Soboleff contacted Jackson because he served for three more terms in the 1970s were people In 1970, he left Southeast Alaska for an as chairman of the Committee on Interior and who emerged as today’s leaders including extended period for the first time since going to Insular Affairs. Kookesh, Mallott and Rosita Worl, president of Dubuque in 1933. In part, Soboleff writes: the nonprofit Sealaska Heritage Institute and He founded the University of Alaska- “We are part of an invaluable American Sealaska Corp. director. Fairbanks Native Studies Department, where resource which under conditions spelled out in Worl recalls working for Soboleff as the he spent four years. the bill before us will eventually bring increased executive director for higher education. By then, he had closed out a 20-year tenure as support to the facets of democracy. One day Worl, then in her late 20s, the Alaska National Guard chaplain, retiring as “An expeditious settlement above and approached him and said, “I can’t wait until I’m a lieutenant colonel. beyond what the rule spells will be of mutual 40 years old for you to talk to me. I need you to He returned to Juneau, also spending time benefit to the Natives, State and Nation. talk to me now.” at a family home in Tenakee, about 70 miles “Your clarion call to battle under ‘Old Glory’ Soboleff responded by saying, “Go close the southeast of Juneau. was proudly answered affirmatively and many window blinds.” He served another three years as ANB’s of our Braves never returned to enjoy their great “I knew I had overstepped my boundaries,” Grand Camp president through 1979 and Nation. Worl recalls. “I went and closed the window has a lifetime title of Grand Camp President “We request your utmost consideration blinds.” Emeritus. without malice, but with honor and integrity A few weeks later, however, Soboleff sent a for a just solution.” note to Worl. In the boardroom During his first term as ANB president in “It said, ‘I would like you to represent me at Soboleff also spent eight years in Sealaska 1966, he delivered a keynote address at the the statewide school board meeting.’ Corp.’s boardroom as a director, new environs annual convention in Hydaburg. “What it said to me was, he was talking to for a man spending most years in a pulpit. He spoke of respect for the organization’s me,” she says. “He was placing this responsibility Mallott says Soboleff represented an ideal fit founders – some of whom he knew – and their on me and expecting that I would represent when the Alaska Native corporations statewide faith in the church. him well at that meeting.” underwent growing pains, some of solvency, He then empowered the members when Soboleff calls ANB’s work crucial in the others of mission. writing: Native community’s formative years. “A lot of that period was very contentious, “In times past and within this time we “It helped Western society to appreciate but he forestalled a lot of acrimony in the board continue to become involved in issues vital the needs of the people during the change room,” Mallott says.

44 First Alaskans | February/March 2011 First24142_X_ryanai_fam.indd Alaskans | February/March 1 2011 12/28/10 3:0145 PM

RyanAir 24142_1 12/28/10

JB/SP 7.417 x 4.175” CMYK Jan

First Alaskans Mag no 2011