Sealaska Heritage publishes fifth graders' documentary on Walter Soboleff

When fifth graders at Auke Bay Elementary learned that Alaska marks Nov. 14 as Walter Soboleff Day, they went looking for why — and found almost nothing in their classroom to explain it. So they made their own documentary about him.

The film, published by Sealaska Heritage Institute, tells the story of Ḵaajaaḵwtí Dr. Walter Soboleff — the first Alaska Native minister of a Protestant church in Alaska, a leader in the fight for Native land rights, and, as interviewee after interviewee describes him, a bridge between Native and non-Native people. Working with a Juneau filmmaker, the students interviewed his family, congregation and friends — some in the Walter Soboleff Building, named for him — researched at the State Library and Archives, and viewed his Chilkat robe in the institute's collection.

The Juneau church Soboleff led was founded in 1942 for Alaska Native worshippers and became integrated after white neighbors asked to join. He was its first and only minister for 22 years — until, in 1962, it was shut down with no warning, just after he had ordered 14 new pews. "It wasn't the wish of the congregation," church member Maxine Richert says in the film. In 2022, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) agreed to formally apologize and offer restitution for the harm. The film carries the congregation's account; the Presbyterian body that made the decision does not appear in it.

Rosita Worl, president of the institute Soboleff helped create, recalls his advice on criticism — answer honest critics, but ignore irrational attacks, since responding only gives them credibility.

Soboleff died at 102. Educator Ronalda Cadiente-Brown closes the film by tying his life to the holiday. "A lifetime of challenging work," she says, "all done with gentleness."