David Salmon

Chief David Salmon (1912 – October 11, 2007) was an Indigenous Alaskan that served as Chief of Chalkyitsik and later First Traditional Chief for the Gwich'in people. He was known for his commitment to improving his community and working for the people. Salmon would use his position and influence as chief to begin many public works and create programs dedicated to helping the Gwich'in people. As an advocate for education, Salmon would spread his knowledge by creating traditional Athabascan items for display or teaching his community to keep Athabascan traditions alive. At the same time, Chief Salmon would be trained and become the first Episcopal priest for Interior Alaska and spend a lot of his life spreading his faith.

Early life David Salmon was born in 1912 in Salmon Village, which was located in the Salmon Fork of the Black River in eastern Alaska. David's father, William Salmon, founded the village in 1901. William would take his son and David's stepmom out of the community after the death of his mother, Alice Salmon, at the age of nine to escape a tuberculosis epidemic. Being unable to financially provide for his son, William would send him to an Episcopal boarding school in Fort Yukon from 1924 to 1925, where he would gain an appreciation for education and the episcopal faith.

With his wife, Sarah, Salmon would return to Chalkyitsik after spending 18 years with his father in the wildness. Though only honorary and nonpolitical, the position gave Salmon respect from the Athabascan and other indigenous Alaskan groups as the position is held in high regard.

Contributions David Salmon would be responsible for the foundations of many programs. He would be a founding member of the Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC), a program dedicated to handling the health and social services of Tribal members and beneficiaries and the Denakkanaaga. This non-profit elder organization addresses the issues of Indigenous Elders.

Due to his childhood, Chief Salmon would be an advocate for education and practical skills, which would encourage him to make personal efforts to spread this to his community. As his father did to him, he would teach the Gwich'in people traditional hunting tools and lifestyles.

Personal faith and beliefs Laying on of hands, led by Bishop William Gordon, during Salmon's ordination to the priesthood in Fort Yukon on October 6, 1962. After leaving the Episcopal School in his childhood, David would maintain his faith and be responsible for creating a church in Fort Yukon. He would go to Michigan and New York to attend Bible schools, where he received training and improved his English. He would be ordained as a Deacon on May 28, 1958. In 1962, Salmon would be appointed as the first official ordained Athabascan priest for Interior Alaska.

During his time as First Traditional Chief, he would state how he believed the disregard of Indian Law and Leadership correlated with the social issues the Indigenous people are facing. Additionally, he would credit his achievement to God and called himself the servant to both God and the people of Chalkyitsik. Calling himself a slave Indian, Salmon would use this mindset when working to improve the community of Chalkyitsik.

Family During his time in the wilderness with his father, David learn about his grandfather and his brother, who were supposedly eight feet strong, yet kind giants. His grandfather was named King Salmon (or Luk Choo), after the strong fish in the river, while his brother was named Bull Moose for similar reasons. King Salmon would be responsible for building a fur trading post Fort Yukon in 1847 after contact with white men and worked for the Hudson's Bay Company from 1850 to 1868. King Moose would die in 1898 at 90 years old.

Due to his history as an Episcopalian priest, his funeral at St. Christopher Episcopal Church would have a mix of Athabascan and Christian traditions. As a sign of memorial, Alaska governor Sarah Palin ordered that all Alaskan flags be lowered to half-staff and commenting how Alaska had lost a respectable figure.

After his death, the Salmon family received about many calls of condolences from throughout Alaska and the United States. Five days after his death (October 15, 2007), he would be buried near his home in Chalkyitsik, next to his wife in a cemetery.