Day 6 - Alaska Cruise
We were on the Westerdam cruise ship sailing from Vancouver to Alaska. On this leg of the cruise, our ship, sailed into the Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska, early in the morning. ( Holland America and the Princess are the only two cruise ship companies permitted to sail into the Glacier Bay National Park while the other bigger cruise ships do not have this privilege. We were unaware of this until we started the cruise.)
The two rangers from the Glacier Bay National Park came on board, pirate style, and spent a whole day on our cruise ship explaining to us about their exhibits and giving us valuable information..
We attended a presentation given by Mimi, a cultural representative from the National Park.
Mimi's grandfather knew every part of the land and water. As for her grandmother, their wasn’t one plant she did not know. The bears could teach you the way of life. God gave us everything people needed.The trees, plants could be used as medicine.
For the second half of her story, Mimi spoke with care. If she misspoke any word, she apologized for it.
We were told that the indigenous people have been welcoming visitors to their
land, feeding them and keeping them warm.
The indigenous people were speaking Tlingit but they came out feeling ashamed of it.
Mimi reminded he audience: Take care of what you have and take care of the next generation. The elders, the highest priority, as they gave us the wisdom. Always take care of what you have, also the next generation.
She wanted to sing a song to honour those who went away for the Vietnam war but didn’t come home
It was a moving and important presentation from the indigenous people's perspective. Koodo to the Glacier National Park for giving them a voice to express their feelings and passing on the history to the next generation.
R.T.
Day 6
On the Westerdam Alaskan Cruise Ship
We were on the Westerdam cruise ship sailing from Vancouver to Alaska. On this leg of the cruise, our ship, sailed into the Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska, early in the morning. ( Holland America and the Princess are the only two cruise ship companies permitted to sail into the Glacier Bay National Park while the other bigger cruise ships do not have this privilege. We were unaware of this until we started the cruise.)
The two rangers from the Glacier Bay National Park came on board, pirate style, and spent a whole day on our cruise ship explaining to us about their exhibits and giving us valuable information..
We attended a presentation given by Mimi, a cultural representative from the National Park.
Mimi came on the stage with a drum, singing and drumming
ready to tell her story.
The Tlingit people living among the glaciers have always respected the
land and elements. The land and the people were living as one, never thought that
they were above the land or animals because they were human being. For thousand of
years, their people have been living on this land. Water is life and sacred to them as water brings life
to everything.
Mimi's grandfather knew every part of the land and water. As for her grandmother, their wasn’t one plant she did not know. The bears could teach you the way of life. God gave us everything people needed.The trees, plants could be used as medicine.
The indigenous people consider animals as part of the family. They respect the
animals, therefore they eat and use every part of it so that the people could show respect for the animals' lives. Animals gave their lives so that people could live. Therefore, give thanks for it.
For the second half of her story, Mimi spoke with care. If she misspoke any word, she apologized for it.
We were told that the indigenous people have been welcoming visitors to their
land, feeding them and keeping them warm.
The native people gave the visitors everything they were
thankful for. However, the missionaries and the visitors tried to break the natives by taking their kids away from them and putting them in government schools.
The indigenous people were speaking Tlingit but they came out feeling ashamed of it.
Mimi reminded he audience: Take care of what you have and take care of the next generation. The elders, the highest priority, as they gave us the wisdom. Always take care of what you have, also the next generation.
Mimi spoke with passion, about their way of life coming from the heart, from ancestors who
did not know them.
Mimi's niece helped to bright the Tlingit language into the school curriculum.
Mimi's niece helped to bright the Tlingit language into the school curriculum.
Now, in Alaska, students have to take 4 years of the Tlingit language before they can graduate from high
school.
school.
She wanted to sing a song to honour those who went away for the Vietnam war but didn’t come home
We all stood and waved our hands in the air as she sang and
drummed a special song to honour the veterans who never had an opportunity to return to America.
It was a moving and important presentation from the indigenous people's perspective. Koodo to the Glacier National Park for giving them a voice to express their feelings and passing on the history to the next generation.
R.T.
Day 6
On the Westerdam Alaskan Cruise Ship
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