by Peter Twitchell
I had the great pleasure, first of all, to play my bass guitar in David Chanar’s “Pilot Bread” Fiddle Band, then on top of that to perform for the Elder’s of Wasilla’s Benteh Tschan Intertribal Elders.
They fed us at their potluck of moose stew, ham with cherries and pineapple, turkey, much more food; apple, cherry, berry pies, pumpkin pies, mashed potatoes. Those elders are great cooks and bakers.
My thanks and appreciation to include former Bethelite Carol Atkins – quyana all!
My thanks to Pilot Bread’s David Chanar – rhythm and vocals, Louise Leonard – vocals and our Cup’ik Nation persuasion, Steve Willis – lead guitar and vocals which David refers to as the “Wasilla lineman who strung line from Toksook to Nightmute”, Hans Halverson – fiddle. Steve refers to me as the rockiness bass player he’s ever played with in a band. That I didn’t mind at all, since I’ve been rocking in my mom’s old wooden rocking chair since I was an infant!
Fun was had by all: Polkas, waltzes, 2-step, line dances, and slow dances. In the past year we had only 1 snowball dance. They just love to dance here, there are very few spectators at the fiddle dances.
Benteh Tschan Intertribal Elders would love to have more elders become members of their elder organization which meets once a month, the 2nd Thursday of each month for get-together activities and lunch from 11am to 1pm. Bring a dish to share and meet other elders.
It’s good to see the communities in the Anchorage area, Mat-Su and Kenai Peninsula embrace their elders no matter if they are from the Yukon-Kuskokwim region, Kodiak, Aleutians, Nondalton area, the Bristol Bay and interior regions as far as up north and the southeast.
If you’re an elder here, you are not alone. If you’d like to get involved with Elder organizations, one of the numbers to call is (907) 414-3955. Quyanaqvaa.
