2021 Alaska Veterans Dinner

10/26/2024

Mush On from KENYA and Beyond…

08/22/2024

Helena Angeline Pagano Schmitz, great grand daughter of Mike and Anastasia Hodikoff-
set foot on Attu Island, Alaska today for the very first time.

-Leader and care taker of the Unceded Saskinax Nation
-Pioneer who orchestrated the return of the 600 year old bone remains of her ancestors that were stolen 89 years ago by the Smithsonian Institution from their graves on Attu
-Anax (mother) to 2 amazing kids
-My wife

She is spending the night tonight at Chichagof Harbor on the northeast side of Attu.

We are all indebted to you Helena for your dedication, beauty, love, and resilience in getting you and your family home.

08/18/2024

Right now my wife Helena Angeline Schmitz is on board the the Alaska Fish and Wildlife boat the Tiglax heading to her home island Attu, Alaska. Helena’s family were peaceful indigenous and subsistence people living on Attu for thousands of years before being invaded and overtaken by Japan in 1942.

Attu Island is the very last island in the Aleutian chain of islands. Attu is physically closer to Japan and Russia than to Anchorage. Attu and neighboring Adax are the only 2 geographic locations in United States history that have ever been overtaken by a foreign power.

This is Helena’s first trip to Attu after an unsuccessful attempt in 2017.

Through Helena’s non profit Atux Forever the bone remains of her 500 to 600 year old ancestors were returned to Attu one year ago by our family.

These bones were dug up and stolen 89 years ago by an anthropologist at the racist Smithsonian institution in Washington DC. These remains were collecting dust in boxes in the basement of the Smithsonian until June 2023 when Helena traveled to the Smithsonian, prepared her family, and brought them home to Alaska.

My wife Helena is floating to Attu right now with staff from the Alaska Fish and Wildlife Department as well as a delegation from Japan. The people from Japan are going to Attu to research their soldiers who died on Attu during the brutal fighting there in World War II.

Helena is the only indigenous person on this voyage. The Alaska Fish and Wildlife Service did not reserve a seat for our son Brad Jr who was going to be an emotional and spiritual support for his mother.

Is it ironic that Helena’s cousin Kathryn Treder is in Japan right now playing professional rugby?
Isn’t it also ironic that Brad jr speaks fluent Japanese but was not reserved a spot on this trip?

https://www.atuxforever.net/post/returning-our-ancestors-story-on-indian-country-today

https://www.facebook.com/share/ZLAyAMnkYuLVPgGZ/?mibextid=WC7FNe

After 87 years at the Smithsonian museum, ancestors reburied on Aleutian Islands - ICT Newshttps://ictnews.org/news/after-87-years-at-the-smithsonian-museum-ancestors-reburied-on-aleutian-islands

04/07/2024

Inviting everybody in Anchorage to come our pen pal letter writing party this coming

Friday, April 12th, from 4:30 to 6:30pm

at the Workshop Art Studio! 1120 Huffman

Pizza, drinks, and everything you need to make fun, colorful letters and cards for new friends all over the world!!

We will have letters from
youth ages 10 to 19 from
Poland, Sweden, France, Zambia,
and even more countries and schools that are wanting new friends in Alaska!

We will mail all first letters to these new international friends for you!

There will also be a Zoom call at 6:00pm with pen pal friends from all over the world!

Come be a part of something to make our world better!!!!

10/16/2021

Our grand door prize for the dinner:

2 free whitewater rafting trips from New Wave Adventures and 2 nights stay at Denali Hostel and Cabins at Denali National Park.

Alaska at its truelly finest! Get your seat today! Only $15 per ticket

10/16/2021

This year’s dinner features some of the finest in Alaskan veterans history and personality.
One might even be really big and furry…

09/29/2021

Our 2021 Honoring Our Heroes dinner on November 6 at the Arctic Recreation Center is coming soon!

Buy your tickets today before your seat is taken.

Now accepting donations to help pay for venue and food costs.

08/14/2021

Alaska is the greatest!
Thank you so much to all of our warriors and veterans for your service and sacrifice!
The salmon say thanks too!

08/11/2021

There is an amazing military history in Alaska. Men and women from and in Alaska have made the ultimate sacrifices for our freedom both here and abroad over the generations.
We want to honor those people. Our dinner on November 6, 2021 is one way we are doing that.