On August 6, a sunny Wednesday, three Athabascan chiefs were memorialized at the Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery with the placement of long-lasting granite monuments. Nearly 100 people attended the special ceremony to unveil and bless the monuments.

His Grace, the Right Reverend Nikolai of the Russian Orthodox Church, blessed the monuments of Chief Nicholai I, Chief Nicholai II, and Chief Simeon Ezi. Following the special blessing, several leaders spoke about the importance of recognizing these gravesites and what it means for the community and Alaska Native history. They included: Jim Barnett, president of the Cook Inlet Historical Society; Barbara Donatelli, CIRI executive vice president; and Michael Johnson, representing Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich’s office.

“These granite markers are a symbol of the dignity we believe each person buried here deserves. And they will also ensure we don’t forget,” said Donatelli.

After the Cook Inlet Historical Society and John Bagoy worked with the Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery to mark nearly 3,000 unmarked graves over the past few years, they began work with Athabascan descendants of the three chiefs to memorialize the gravesites with granite monuments. Meetings with descendants of the chiefs, CIRI region village representatives, CIRI staff, and Bagoy began about three years ago, and over time more information about the chiefs was gathered. Early on, the families agreed it would be culturally inappropriate to replace the spirit houses that once marked the graves and eventually deteriorated and instead to recognize them with the granite monuments.

The project has drawn wide-ranging support, including the Municipality of Anchorage. At Bagoy’s request, the municipality donated the cost of installing the monuments. The cost of the monuments was donated by Cook Inlet Historical Society and the descendants. Bagoy has initiated numerous improvement efforts at the Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery on a volunteer basis and works closely with the Cook Inlet Historical Society. Bagoy secured the monuments and their bronze plaques, etched with words of remembrance written by the family members.

Eklutna elder Alberta Stephan and Point Possession representatives Betty Gilcrist and Norman Kallander were instrumental in their research and assistance securing the monuments for their ancestors. Stephan and her family were in attendance at the ceremony to remember Stephan’s grandfather Chief Ezi. During the ceremony she spoke about how her grandfather was a man who chose his words carefully. After speaking, she invited the Ya Ne Dah Ah Dancers from Chickaloon to perform a special remembrance.

Kallander spoke on behalf of descendants of Point Possession. More than 30 family members, spanning four generations, from Alaska and the Lower 48, including Wisconsin, attended.

Chief Simeon Ezi, who lived from 1865 to 1935, was the Dena’ina Chieftain of the Upper Cook Inlet. Chief Nicholai I, who died March 20, 1919, was from Point Possession and led the Alaska Natives of the Cook Inlet region. His brother and successor, Chief Nicholai II, was the last recognized Athabascan chief of Ch’aghalnikt, or Point Possession. He lived from 1891 to 1935.

Descendants of Chiefs Nicholai I and II.