User talk:VALERIE JENSEN

This message concerns the late Reverend Chief David Salmon, who died in 2007 while serving as the First Traditional Chief of the Gwich'in Athabascan people in Interior Alaska.

I thought it deserved mention that he collaborated with anthropologist, Thomas O'Brien, to write a book that was published by the Chicago University Press on the historic use of implements used by the Gwich'in people. This is thought to be a significant body of work.

He is also the subject of several books, which can be learned with a simple Google search, and which are sold through Amazon. One of these was written by Judy Ferguson.

I have been affiliated with the Midnight Sun Intertribal Powwow (MSIP) which has been held in Fairbanks 2001 - 2019 and will resume once it is safe to do so. It is part of Native tradition for outside tribes to ask permission from the Chief of the land on which you intend to hold an event. As part of this process and the ensuing relationship that was formed between the late Reverend Chief and those members and participants with MSIP, he attended and participated in our annual event. He made an important contribution by re-introducing the Athabascan game of nilee 'zhruk' (spellings vary) to our powwow. It was through my research for writing an account for the MSIP Facebook page that I discovered the Wikipedia write up and was subsequently disappointed to learn of this omission.

Once someone does some research concerning the book that came from his collaboration with Thomas O'Brien, I believe that your staff may determine that this is information which merits mention. So much of importance is lost over the years - which is the very reason that Mr O'Brien and the late Reverend Chief put so much item and effort and love in to preserving this knowledge for generations to come.

I very much appreciate that Wikipedia provides a format to allow the opportunity for me, average reader, to share information and my thoughts with your staff.

Most Sincerely,

Valerie Jensen