“Writing at a time of a threatened natural world”
2022 Keynote Speaker
Click on each author for a short biography.
2022 Faculty Members
Click on each author for a short biography.
Panel Discussion Topics 2022
2022 North Words Panel Topics
Below is the initial list of panel and workshop topics for. A final list with faculty assignments will appear on the 2022 schedule.
Caged and Creative:
Writing through the Pandemic
Jack London’s long shadow:
Disputing and transforming the legacy of racism in American literature.
Speaking to an existential threat:
Whether to rally the troops or reform the skeptics when writing about climate science.
We’re still here:
Decolonizing readers through Indigenous literary voices.
Storytelling as medicine:
Catching stories to heal the world.
The writer’s role in the age of disinformation and upheaval:
Facing pandemics, politics, and other disasters, and setting the story straight.
Writing enlightening biography:
How to bring people back to life.
Writing to the disparity:
Acknowledging class and race in our writing voices.
•••••••
WORKSHOP ON CHARACTER: Pathways to your chosen people.
WORKSHOP ON MEMOIR: Memoir, memory, and the search for truth.
WORKSHOP ON POETRY: TBA
Faculty Publications
Alaska/NW Faculty 2022 Selected Works
Heather Lende, current Alaska Writer Laureate
heatherlende.com
Of Bears and Ballots, Find the Good, Take Good Care of the Garden and the Dogs, If You Lived Here, I’d Know Your Name
Kim Heacox
kimheacox.com
The Only Kayak • Jimmy Bluefeather • John Muir and the Ice that Started a Fire • Rhythm of the Wild • The National Parks • Alaska’s Inside Passage
M. Jackson
drmjackson.com
While Glaciers Slept: Being Human in a Time of Climate Change • The Secret Lives of Glaciers
Hank Lentfer
hanklentfer.net
Raven’s Witness: The Alaska Life of Richard K. Nelson • Faith of Cranes
Tina Ontiveros
tinaontiveros.com
rough house
Laureli Ivanoff
laureliivanoff.com
See her essays and poetry in Real Native via the website link above.
Nicole Stellon O’Donnell
nicolestellon.com
Everything Never Comes This Way, You Are No Longer In Trouble, Steam Laundry
Also check out these books from our Organizing Faculty:
• Across the Shaman’s River: John Muir, the Tlingit Stronghold and the Opening of the North, by Daniel Henry
• Skagway: City of the New Century: The True Story of Skagway, Alaska including the White Pass, Dyea and the Chilkoot Trail, co-authored and edited by Jeff Brady
• Before the Grave: Poems by D.S. Poorman, edited with an afterword by Kent Fielding.
All of these books are available from Skaguay News Depot & Books or through bookshop.org supporting independent bookstores.
North Words Writers Symposium Schedule
Tuesday, May 24
Early arrivals may choose Alaska Seaplanes from Juneau any day, or an Alaska Fjordlines boat on May 23 (sorry, the May 24 ferry was cancelled; there is one on May 25). More info about discounts on the Travel page of our website.
6:00-8:00 PM • EARLY ARRIVALS SUP & SLAM
No Host Dinner and Poetry Open Mic Slam at Olivia’s at Historic Skagway Inn
(please sign up on the form online)
If you arrive early for North Words please join us for an evening of food and poetry hosted by Trevor Van Houten and Nicole Stellon O’Donnell. Bring a favorite poem or slam one of your own.
Historic Skagway Inn – 7th & Broadway
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Wednesday, May 25
1) 10 – 11:30 AM – Bike Rental from Sockeye Cycle for Bike Tour of Skagway with Dan Henry
Sign up before arrival • Sponsored by Sockeye Cycle
2) Red Onion Saloon Brothel Tour (voucher in your packet)
Sponsored by Red Onion Saloon (check times at RO)
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Wednesday’s Ferry arrives at 1:15 pm, arrivals should go to place of lodging first, then proceed to conference headquarters at AB Hall to pick up packets from 4 to 5:30 pm.
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2:00-3:00 PM • Early Bird Book Signing with Doug Pope, Linda Buckley, Nancy Lord, Mandy Ramsey, and Holly Hughes
Skaguay News Depot & Books – 208 Broadway across from AB Hall
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3:00 – 3:45 PM – Faculty Meeting
AB Hall conference room • Broadway between 2nd & 3rd
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3:45-5:00 PM – Final Registration, Participant Packet Pickups
AB Hall conference room • Broadway between 2nd & 3rd
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6:00 – 7:30 PM – Opening Reception at BrewCo
Skagway Brewing Co., 4th b/w Broadway & Spring – Food & First Drink Provided
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Thursday, May 26
Thursday at AB Hall
8:00 AM – 8:30 AM – Continental Breakfast – AB Hall
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8:30 – 9:00 AM – Welcome! Announcements, Remembrances, Introductions
X̱’unei Lance Twitchell, Skagway Tribal Council
Organizing Faculty, Everyone
—— ——
9:00-10:15 AM – Opening Panel: Caged and Creative
Writing through the Pandemic
Panel: Heather, Kim, Nicole
—— ——
(Morning Stretch during break led by Mandy/Linda)
—— ——
10:30 – 11:45 AM – Jack London’s Long Shadow
Disputing and transforming the legacy of racism in literature on the 125th anniversary of the Klondike Gold Rush
Panel: Tommy, X̱’unei Lance, Jeff, Dan
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11:45 AM – 1:30 PM – Lunch On Your Own!
Discover local cuisine/menus at Skagway Visitor Center in AB Hall or visit www.skagway.com
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12:45 – 2:00 PM – Book Signing: Tommy Orange, keynote (this may be outside on side deck)
Skaguay News Depot & Books – across Broadway from AB Hall
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2:00 – 3:15 PM – Speaking to an Existential Threat
Whether to rally the troops or reform the skeptics when writing about climate science
Panel: Kim, Hank, Dan
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3:30 – 5:00 PM – Faculty Consultations
AB Hall or other arranged locations
Half-hour sessions with faculty and staff; sign up in advance
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5:00 – 7:00 PM – Dine out on your own in Skagway!
Discover local cuisine/menus at Skagway Visitor Center in AB Hall or visit www.skagway.com
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7:00 – 8:30 PM – Faculty Readings at Eagles Hall
Location: Eagles Hall Theatre with introduction by Soapy Smith, open to public
Sponsored by the Days of ’98 Show • Eagles Hall, 6th & Broadway
( also open to public for viewing on Facebook Live)
——– ——–
Friday, May 27
6:45 – 7:55 AM – Early Bird Workshops
(choose one, register in advance)
Memoir, memory, and the search for truth with Tina & Laureli
or Poetry Workshop with Nicole
Skagway Public Library – 8th & State
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Friday at AB Hall
8:00 AM – 8:45 AM – Continental Breakfast, Announcements – AB Hall
Organizing Faculty, 49 Writers
8:45 AM – 9:05 AM – And now this message from your body
Led by Linda Buckley and Mandy Ramsey
Reflection, Breathe, Release
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9:15 AM – 10:30 AM – We’re Still Here
Decolonizing Readers through Indigenous Voices
Panel: Laureli, Tommy, X̱’unei Lance
—— ——
10:45 AM – 12:00 Noon – Storytelling as Medicine
Catching Stories to Heal the World
Panel: Tina, Heather, Hank
—— ——
12:00 Noon – 2:00 PM – Lunch On Your Own!
Discover local cuisine/menus at Skagway Visitor Center in AB Hall or visit www.skagway.com
—— ——
12:30 – 2:00 PM – Alaska-NW Faculty Book Signing
(half hour shifts, possibly outside on side deck)
12:30-1 • Hank Lentfer and Kim Heacox
1-1:30 • Nicole Stellon O’Donnell and Tina Ontiveros
1:30-2 • Heather Lende and Leigh Newman
Skaguay News Depot & Books – across Broadway from AB Hall
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2:00 PM – 3:00 PM – Writing Enlightening Biography
How to bring people back to life
Panel: Hank, Kim, Nicole
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Evening Alderworks BBQ Schedule
5:30 PM – Van/Shuttle Pickups for ride to Alderworks in Dyea
Pickup locations: White House (8th & Main), Morning Wood (4th & State), Sgt. Preston’s (6th & State), Skagway Inn (7th & Broadway), Westmark (3rd & Spring).
Courtesy of SMART Bus
6:30 – 8:30 PM – Hoedown at Alderworks!
Hosted & Sponsored by Alderworks Alaska Writers & Artists Retreat (1 West Creek Rd)
BBQ & music by the cabins and new studio
Book Launch for ‘Nobody Gets Out Alive’, a new Alaska short story collection written by Leigh Newman, our inaugural Alderworks resident (several stories were written or revised here). Books available for purchase at bookstore.
8:30 PM – Vans/Shuttle departs Alderworks for Skagway
Drop offs: 8th & Main , 4th & State, 6th & State, 7th & Broadway, 3rd & Spring
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Saturday, May 28
Breakfast on your own this morning
MORNING TRAIN EXCURSION & DENVER GLACIER TRAIL HIKE & WRITE
Hike with Packer Expeditions or Trail Write with Dan Henry
Sign up in advance!
(coffee & sack lunch provided)
7:30-7:45 AM – Van/Shuttle Pickups for ride to train departure station
Pickup locations: White House (8th & Main), Morning Wood (4th & State), Sgt. Preston’s (6th & State), Skagway Inn (7th & Broadway), Westmark (3rd & Spring). Courtesy of SMART Bus
Train Departs 8:15 AM, arrives back in Skagway about 11:30 AM
Sponsored by WP&YR / Packer Expeditions
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Saturday afternoon sessions at Presbyterian Church (5th & Main)
1:30 – 2:30 PM – The Writer’s Role in the Age of Disinformation and Upheaval
Facing pandemics, politics, and other disasters, and setting the story straight
Panel: Heather, Kim, Laureli
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(Afternoon Stretch during break led by Mandy/Linda)
—— ——
2:40 – 4:15 PM– Participant Readings
Individual readings of no more than 6-8 minutes
Limit of 6-8 minutes each. Sign up before conference.
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Rest of afternoon free to explore or shop in downtown Skagway, go for a walk, or rest up before evening.
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Saturday Evening Keynote Banquet Schedule
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM – Closing Banquet at Westmark Hotel’s Chilkoot Dining Room
Welcome by Mayor Andrew Cremata, Municipality of Skagway
(Select your dinner option in the form online)
Keynote by Tommy Orange in conversation with Daniel Henry and X̱’unei Lance Twitchell in upstairs lounge following dinner at approximately 8:00 PM
Off Book to follow in downtown Skagway