Tlingit scholar, activist, artist and poet, Andy Hope passed away last Thursday in Sitka. He loved words. And, he loved language. He worshipped Nora Dauenhauer when he was young, for her understanding of Tlingit vocabulary. In an outstanding tribute to Andy Hope, in the Juneau Empire, Kate Golden writes:As a college student, Andrew "Andy" John Hope III would come to Nora Dauenhauer's office just to listen and watch her read and write Tlingit, the language of his people.
"He loved Tlingit, as I remember, and wanted to do something good for it, and make sure it continued," Dauenhauer, the scholar, said. "And in a written form."
Standing with
Uncle Herb
Early evening
October 1957
In the Front yard
Of Andrew and Tillie Hope’s house
On back street
Which is
Up above
Front street
In the
Sitka Indian village
We were looking
Up into the night sky
He was cursing
The commies
Because
That Russian satellite
Sputnik
Beat
The USA
Into space
image of Andy hope by Peter Metcalfe
2 comments:
Beautiful person and writer - mentor and hero. He will be missed immensely!
A man with integrity. Sometimes troubled, often troublesome, but he always spoke his mind.
He was doing whatever he could to get the stories and traditions of the Tlingit people made permanent on paper. A true scholar who had to fight for the academic recognition that his people's language and culture deserved.
His map showing the boundaries, names, and clan houses of the Tlingit people was a masterpiece, the result of 20 years of research and discussions with tribal elders.
Goonalcheesh, Andy, for your life's work. May you finally be at peace.
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