果冻传煤

Sadie Neakok (1916-2004) was born in Utqia摹vik, Alaska in 1916. Her father, Charles D. Brower, arrived in Utqia摹vik as a commercial whaler, where he met Sadie鈥檚 mother, Ahsiangatok (础蝉颈补艐艐补迟补辩). One of 10 children, Sadie grew up in a multicultural household. She went to boarding school in San Francisco for high school before moving back to Alaska to attend the University of Alaska.

When Sadie returned home, she used her Western education to help advocate for the rights of her people. She started off working in social work and education before becoming a magistrate in Alaska's Second District when the Alaska territory became a state 1959. While in her position, Sadie presented in court in both English and I帽upiaq languages and advocated for defendants to participate in court even if they did not understand English. Fighting against discrimination and supporting fair hunting, subsistence, and game regulations were just a few of the issues she championed.

When asked in 1983 what the best part of her work was, she replied, 鈥済aining the respect of my people.鈥� In 2009, Sadie was inducted into the Alaska Women鈥檚 Hall of Fame. In her Hall of Fame profile, Sadie remarked on the advice she gave to all women no matter where they lived: get involved in your community and work to make it a better place. Sadie passed away in 2004, leaving her legacy as a mother, educator, and advocate.

Did you know Sadie聽and have a story you鈥檇 like to share about her? We鈥檇 love to know more about her and about the powerful women in your life. Share your images and stories with us on Instagram and Facebook by tagging us (@anchoragemuseum聽and #ExtraToughWomenAK) and we鈥檒l add them to our ongoing digital curation project. Stay tuned for new posts and in the meantime, be sure to check out the exhibition, now open!

Photo credit: 果冻传煤 Museum, Fran Durner Collection, B2016.4.12.6Sa