Many stories, I believe, weren’t meant to have a specific meaning. Depending on one’s own age, wisdom and knowledge, a story could have many different meanings. When Elders answer a question with a story they do this to make you answer the question for yourself. When I didn’t understand a story in class, I would think about it even harder, trying to decipher a meaning. This helped me in two different ways: I would think about the story so much I would actually memorize it, and I also found the answer to my question.

Another insight I gained was during a presentation by Dr. George Charles, during a class held on November 17, 2008. He mentioned the need for Native people to discover connections with other people. At this point I realized I was subconsciously trying to make connections with all the guest speakers during a course I took. One connection I discovered I had with all the presenters was the fact that they all admitted they still have a lot more to learn about their own respective cultures. It was reassuring and humbling to know that our Elders are constantly in the pursuit of knowledge. It helped me realize I shouldn’t be embarrassed to say I don’t know. I now realize saying “I don’t know” actually pushes me to learn more about my culture and other Alaska Native cultures every day.

I have been employed at the Alaska Native Heritage Center for nine years. Every summer visitors from around the world expect me to be an expert on information relating to all Native people of Alaska. My response in Sugcestun, the language of the Native people of Kodiak, will now be, “Sugpiastun Litcugtua” (I’m still learning the ways of my people).

I continually gain insight into my Sugpiat culture from stories taught to me by my Elders. I am also gaining insight about the various Native cultures of Alaska from Elders who I may never have met if I hadn’t enrolled in the Rural Development program at UAF. I realize now that as I age I have been increasing my wisdom and intelligence throughout my life. I now also realize the stories taught to me as a child have many more meanings than I first comprehended.

I would be lying if I said I understood all the guest speakers that semester. However, when I’m faced with new challenges I will recall the lessons taught in class just as I recall the stories taught to me by my grandmother.