ST. MATTHEW'S
AND
Engineering Commission, and the Acting Register of the U. S. Land Office, to discuss the future of Land and Cultural rights among the Athabascan Communities of the Tanana River. The recent passage of the Alaska Railroad Bill threatened, Wickersham foresaw, the lifestyles of the Native villages. Instrumental in arranging the meeting, and moderating it, was the Rev. Guy Madera of St. Matthew's, and responsible for the Tanana Valley Missions. Wickersham argued for setting up reservations, homesteads, and allotments along the River. The Chiefs, and Interpreter Paul Williams of Tanana were skeptical and rejected the ideas - "We are suggesting to you just one thing, that we want to be left alone. As the whole continent was made for you, God made Alaska for the Indian people, and all we hope is to be able to live
here all the time. . . ", said Chief Joe of Salchaket.
This was the first significant meeting between the Chiefs of the Interior communities and Government officials about Land and Cultural Issues. All of the chiefs present were members of the Episcopal Church, a fact that was commented on at the meeting.
This window portrays Chief Yit-su-dad-a-kwot (Alexander Williams) of Tanana in the foreground, with a number of the other Chiefs and the Rev. Guy Madera of St. Matthew's in the back, standing beside the historic St. Matthew's library. The window was designed by Fairbanks artist James Grant, the great grandson of Chief Alexander, and crafted in glass by Debbie Matthews of Expressions in Glass. It is a gift to this Church and Community from Doyon, Limited; the Fairbanks native Association; the Tanana Chiefs Conference; William and Sarah Walters, in memory of Joseph J. Walters, Jr.; Brenda Wilcox, in memory of Sara Sears; Thomas and Sue Marsh, in thanksgiving for Phillip, Keith, Neil, Clayton, and Aubrey; Corrisa, Cheryl, and William Flitt, in Thanksgiving for Martha Flitt and Neil James; and Andrea and Oliver Backlund.