I live and write on Lingít Aaní, and gratefully acknowledge the past, present and future caretakers of this beautiful place, the Jilkaat Kwaan and Jilkoot Kwaan.

 It is a scene you think you’ve witnessed. A state Trooper SUV pulls over on the side of a winding road, waving a truck following him to pull in behind. The Trooper steps out of his rig, and the guy in the pick-up rolls down his window and  says, ” I thought my lights weren’t working.”
 
The Trooper says, “I wasn’t paying attention, I was looking for speeders, so I almost missed you. Why were flashing me? What’s the trouble?”
 
“I just wanted to wish you happy birthday.”
 
“You know, my wife must have put it on the radio, everybody in town knows.”
 
And of course, the woman walking by made sure to wish the Trooper a happy birthday, too.