Sitting at Their Feet, by Matt Gilbert

Sitting at Their Feet, by Matt Gilbert

A Gwich’in Athabascan man’s coming-of-age story in the mountains of northern Alaska, during his people’s shift into the modern world. Starting with his childhood, where he sits at the feet of the last traditional Elders tribe tell old stories. They raise and inspire him, as he enters his tumultuous yet adventuresome teen and early adult years. Travelling many places, he searches for the best education. He returns and finishes college at home and becomes a community leader among his Alaska Native people. He travels the reservations in the states to gather support for them and takes up his Elders’ fight for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the new global crisis of climate change. As he nears his 30th birthday, life calms down and he goes back to school. He returns to his village and translates the stories of his now-deceased-Gwich’in-Elders with his grandfather for his Masters Thesis. Thus, sitting at their feet and listening to their stories once again, as a grown and seasoned leader, yet still humbled by them. 

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