JUNEAU COMMISSION ON AGING
SENIOR PROFILES – Richard Stokes!
At 84, Richard remains deeply engaged in his passions, seamlessly blending his love for outdoor guiding with the art of poetry.
Since retiring from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Richard has spent over 20 years as a guide with Gastineau Guiding, specializing in the East and West Glacier Trails and leading whale-watching tours. He joked that at the end of his first season, management handed out humorous certificates, and his read: ‘This is to Richard, the old dude who does everything the rest of us do. He relates that people on his tours are curious about his age and are surprised when he tells them how old he is … which is good for his self-esteem, he admits.
However, he acknowledges that his high level of energy and enthusiasm is waning. He says that “Age does make a difference physically and it’s hard to say whether it’s age or repetition that’s curved the enthusiasm. I don’t think I’m any less enthusiastic about hiking but it’s certainly hard you know the joints are creakier and it’s tougher at night.”
This year, Richard finds himself more drawn to coaching and mentoring new employees than to guiding the hiking and whale-watching tours. While he still occasionally leads a few tours, he takes greater pleasure in watching new guides develop their skills.
He is a prolific poet and has already published four chapbooks. Richard best describes his writing as about “nature which he loves and aging which he is doing.” Richard is an active member of the Burn Thompson Writing Group, which currently includes ten individuals of various ages. He describes the group as a powerful force for linguistic exploration and credits it with having a positive impact on his life, keeping him engaged and connected with others, including fellow seniors.
As someone who naturally shied away from public speaking, he found himself thrust into situations where he had to address various audiences during his forties while working for the State. He faced a similar challenge in his fifties when he began reading his poetry to audiences.
When asked what he most loved about being able to age in Juneau, he responded: “Connections. Connections to people that are here. And connections to the environment. I really like the fact that you can get in your car and go to an interesting place in 10 minutes.” As a bonus, he is near his children and grandchildren. If Richard were to move away from Juneau, he would miss the glorious library system, with its remarkable ability to retrieve books from various locations, as well as the Amazing Book Store.
Richard and his wife have lived in their home for nearly 40 years. They consider moving if they find a suitable condo with 2-3 bedrooms, but the high cost of new housing is a concern. While Richard admits to growing weary of yard work, he appreciates that by hiring help, he is financially supporting others in the community.
He is very aware of how quickly something can happen that could affect their ability to stay in their home. “Well, we certainly worry a little bit about getting ready for when we aren’t as mobile and ambulatory as we are. We have a house that has steps and a sloping sidewalk. We just recently put in a handrail that took like three years to get. everything put together in hand.”
Juneau is fortunate to have Richard spend his elder years here, enriching the community with his skills and contributions. His dedication to making Juneau a better place inspires everyone.
Sample Poems by Richard Stokes
Marking Time
(Published in 2024 Tidal Echoes, UAS Literary Journal)
You have seen the man around town.
One day as rain dripped
from eaves of the liquor store
he was hunkered back against the wall,
a duffel bag between his knees,
a mustard-smeared plate
near his feet. Yellow strands
streaked his gray beard
and a felt hat likely hid his eyes.
On sunny days you’ve seen him near the docks
sitting with his duffel, his eyes focused
on something in the far distance
or in his imagination.
Another day he might have wandered
up Franklin or Main with the duffel’s
single strap over one shoulder,
the bag flopping against his thigh.
Or you could have spotted him
in a bus shelter, probably leaning against
his bag, perhaps waiting on a bus,
but perhaps simply marking time.
I live in a house filled with more
than I can stuff into a duffel.
The water for brushing my teeth
comes from a faucet near at hand.
Most days I brew coffee
eat some eggs and toast
watch a couple of hours of cable TV
check my emails.
Some days you might see me walking
on the bike path, part of my route
down to the Pioneer Home, then up
around the hospital.
You may have spotted me lugging
my compost bucket to the street
on Wednesdays or pushing the garbage
container down on Fridays or
checking the mail most any day.
You may have even seen me sitting
in one of the bus shelters like the other guy.
You assumed I was waiting on a bus,
but I may have been simply marking time
Seasons
(Published in Cirque and again in my chapbook, Woven, 2023)
Sunshine falls on my book and a hand
belonging to a much older person.
Liver spots pepper wrinkled flesh
stretched over blue veins and ropy tendons.
As I end my afternoon walk
darkness shrouds the ridges.
At this time last month, sunlight gleamed,
pinks and purples filled the western sky.
Seconds, hours, years creep by,
then, “Surprise!” there you are,
surrounded by loved ones
and a grave-looking doctor.
Last Traces
(Published in Poetry Omnibus and in Woven, 2023)
Encrusted
on gravestones,
lichens go about
their silent work
erasing
the who,
the when.
JUNE 2024 – SENIOR PROFILES
Margaret Haube, yòo xát duwasàakw cháak áyá xát Naanyaa.ayi naax xát sitee, from chief sakes hitdáx áyá xát in Wrangell/Shax’ héen Khwáandáxh áyá xát (bitterwater tribe) and Wooshkeetaan a toodeí xát jíwataan ax naa daakahídi, T’oos’ Déxh’i hít (shark backbone) in Xunaa kháawu (people from the direction of the northwind), Yanyeidí yádi áyá xát
Roberta and Margaret, members of the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, recognized a poignant reality within their Senior Program. Many elders engaging in current activities have never experienced traditional dances or songs, having been sent to boarding schools aimed at eradicating their cultural heritage.
In May of last year, they embarked on a mission to establish a dance group. Despite initial uncertainties, five elders joined the group. Within a short span, they found themselves showcasing their talents at their Caregivers Conference in Juneau. To ensure the program’s success, Roberta and Margaret sought guidance from seasoned elder dancers, enriching their understanding and proficiency in native dancing.
Roberta has worked for the council for 18 years. At the age of 60, she achieved a milestone by graduating from UAF with a degree in Social Work. Despite her rich cultural heritage, dance was absent from Roberta’s formative years, largely due to her separation from family and her Angoon community to attend high school. However, her roots are deeply embedded in Tlingit traditions, inherited from her grandmother, sister, and uncle. In addition to her immersion in native dancing, Roberta has embraced sewing projects linked to her heritage, such as crafting robes for elders—a pursuit that is now her passion.
As an elder herself, she reflects on pictures of elders she grew up with—individuals fluent in Tlingit, steeped in their songs and dances. When she organized the elder dance group with limited personal cultural knowledge, she was also grappling with personal life challenges. Through the process she has come to appreciate the imperative for healing through native traditions.
Margaret’s journey culminated in her recent graduation from UAF, earning a degree in Social Work. Her professional trajectory began as a family case worker, before transitioning to specialize in social work within the Elder Program. Among her many responsibilities, Margaret plays a pivotal role in organizing the Caregiver Conference.
Her passion for sewing came from her mother. During college classes, she found beading gave her focus and kept her awake. All of her creations are meticulously crafted by hand. She never learned how to use a sewing machine – and doesn’t want to.
Margaret highlights two significant challenges: weaving the Tlingit language into dance routines and joyfully embracing mistakes. However, with a culture of encouragement and shared learning, all of the elders have grown, and each has added to the collective wisdom. Emphasis is placed on individuals’ capabilities and contributions. No one is excluded and everyone has a voice. Some elders choose to remain seated during performances, and their presence is acknowledged and respected. Even those with physical limitations find innovative ways to join in, like incorporating a cane into their movements. It is through the wide range of experiences of the participants and the curiosity of the elders that the dance group thrives.
The Elder Dance Group has performed at the Caregivers Conference, Tlingit-Haida Tribal Assembly, and Sealaska. The next chance to see the Elder Dance Group perform will be at Celebration this year in June. (Elder Dance Group Performance)
Margaret and Roberta share a vision for the Elder Dance Group’s ongoing expansion, seeing it as a vital avenue for healing and joy within the Native community. Elders have voiced their desire for unity, rejecting isolation in favor of shared experiences. They yearn for moments where they can rise and dance, eager for their grandchildren to witness their cultural pride firsthand. It’s not just about learning the ancestral language; it’s about singing it with reverence and passing down this heritage to future generations. By showcasing their dedication and passion they hope to inspire younger members of the community to embrace their roots as well.
The Elder Dance Group serves as a stage where individuals can showcase their holistic selves—mind, body, and spirit—and proudly display their unique contributions to the world, fostering a sense of empowerment and unity among its members. Roberta shared these words from Dr. Soboleff: He always said to take care of the old person, and you will become one.
Roberta and Margaret are engaged in a range of cultural and future-oriented activities for their community, including language classes, harvesting, and cooking workshops, sewing classes, the creation of a cookbook, and organizing the Eagle/Raven walk.
MAY 2024 – SENIOR PROFILE
Linda Kruger
I grew up on a small family farm in Michigan (ask me about milking cows before school), the oldest of five, and moved to Alaska in 1976 after graduating with a degree in Natural Resource Management from the University of Michigan. After 13 years with Alaska State Parks and Outdoor Recreation (Haines and Juneau) I left Alaska in 1989 for graduate studies degree at the University of Washington, College of Forest Resources. I started working with Forest Service Research/ PNW Research Station (1991), finished my PhD (1996), and completed a master’s degree in Whole Systems Design and Organizational Change (1997). I moved back to Juneau in 2003 focusing on building community capacity and assisting communities with adaptation and building resilience to climate change. I retired from the Forest Service in 2019, after coordinating community-based research for 28 years. After retiring, I completed a 6-month certification as a Nature and Forest Therapy Guide and I completed a 6-month certificate program with America Walks in 2023.
My current interests are senior longevity, especially brain health and physical activity, and promoting health benefits of forests and nature, programs that engage people, especially seniors, and incorporating citizen science activities that engage residents in science. I’m also a water aerobics instructor at the AGB pool, mostly working with seniors.
I’m a frequent volunteer. I received the 2018 Mayor’s Award for the Arts for my volunteer work with the Juneau Symphony, Jazz and Classics, Juneau Folk Festival, and the Juneau Arts and Culture Center. I am on the Juneau Hostel Board, the Juneau World Affairs Council Board, the KTOO Citizen Advisory Board, the Juneau Commission on Aging, and I am the coordinator for AARP’s Juneau Community Action Team. In other words, I keep busy!
AGING! SO COOL, EVERYONE IS DOING IT!