The small auditorium in the Ward building at Kenai Peninsula College was overflowing with people there to remember Dr. Alan Boraas. He died in November at age 72. KDLL’s Shaylon Cochran was there to capture some stories from family, friends and a few of the hundreds of people inspired by Boraas’ long career teaching Native languages and advocating the ideals of a northern community.
It’s well known that Alan played an outsize role in developing the Tsalteshi Trail system. But perhaps less well known is how he was a cross country ski coach, unless you were on one of his teams or, like Kent Peterson, coaching alongside with a firsthand view.
“Like many of the students Alan coached at Kenai Central and then Skyview, Alan took me under his wing and shared his passion for the northern culture and embracing life in the outdoors, regardless of the season. His coaching philosophy was more about creating lifelong outdoor enthusiasts and athletes, not just winning a race; helping people to see the value in being fit enough to explore the world around them and to have the desire and knowledge that they can go a little farther than they think, and probably a little faster, too.
"One workout that we did really inspired the kids to move a little faster. Alan had the idea to play paintball on the Tsalteshi Trails as a preseason workout. But he and I were the only ones with guns. The kids were supposed to get out to the biathalon range and back without getting tagged by us. We both enjoyed that a lot, and we both were still employed as coaches.”
The ski trails were just one place where Alan left a mark. In more than 40 years of teaching, he has produced volumes on local Native culture and language, and inspired younger generations to continue that study and those traditions. Sondra Shaginoff-Stuart now teaches Dena’ina and Ahtna language classes at KPC, among other roles. She met Dr. Boraas more than 30 years ago, when he was working with Dena’ina elder Peter Kalifornsky.
“When I started the class, I was surprised I was the only Native person in the class other than Peter. I also learned, throughout the years and at that time, that language learning was not just about taking a class and using it. It was much more than that. It was about discovering identity, and in a place where you live. The class helped me to see and connect with people through the Native language. He shared concepts and made me feel included and confident to speak and share my thoughts and knowledge. I finally had a space where I could offer something. I began to look to my elders and I wanted to connect to my ancestors. Through Dr. Boraas, I began the journey of language learning.”
And when he wasn’t teaching or coaching, he was often writing, penning columns for the Anchorage Daily News, Peninsula Clarion and the Redoubt Reporter for many years. And some of that writing eventually found its way into songs. Mike Morgan says the first song he was ever commissioned to write was inspired by Alan and his reverence for life in Kasilof. Another little ditty was a retooling of the story of John Henry, but with a local bent and painted with Alan’s dry and deep sense of humor.
