Soul freedom
Jeff Stevens, a skilled handy-man born in Montana, with Indian blood in his veins from the Crow and Blackfeet tribes.
He grew up on a reservation in Montana and at a turning point in his life made a journey to Alaska. It was more a spiritual journey as much as a physical one. Let's find out about Jeff's way to the Great Land.
- How long have you lived in Alaska and why are you still here?
- I came up to get away from a divorce. I had a bad divorce, I was married almost 30 years, it was OK relationship but in the last part of it my wife at the time filed for divorce, I signed the papers and in two weeks moved out of the house, she let her boyfriend in. I knew somebody was going to get hurt and I needed to get out of the town so I came up to Alaska for a couple of months. This was in 2006. I came up here experiencing totally new freedom. When I left the state of Montana and the ranch and the marriage it was a totally new start. I lost everything: I gave away everything. Before I came to Alaska, I owned two houses, a business, several cars, raised four kids. And when the divorce hit I had nothing: the houses, cars, I surrendered it all. And when I got up to Alaska I was suicidal, it was a mental disaster for me for quite a while. It was early in my journey when I got up here that I discovered: my junk owned me. My stuff owned me. My houses… I was working two weeks out of every month just to pay interest on the houses and cars. Then I discovered that I actually had total freedom and that stuff didn't own me anymore, beautiful opportunity to go on a journey for myself and discover…
- I came up to get away from a divorce. I had a bad divorce, I was married almost 30 years, it was OK relationship but in the last part of it my wife at the time filed for divorce, I signed the papers and in two weeks moved out of the house, she let her boyfriend in. I knew somebody was going to get hurt and I needed to get out of the town so I came up to Alaska for a couple of months. This was in 2006. I came up here experiencing totally new freedom. When I left the state of Montana and the ranch and the marriage it was a totally new start. I lost everything: I gave away everything. Before I came to Alaska, I owned two houses, a business, several cars, raised four kids. And when the divorce hit I had nothing: the houses, cars, I surrendered it all. And when I got up to Alaska I was suicidal, it was a mental disaster for me for quite a while. It was early in my journey when I got up here that I discovered: my junk owned me. My stuff owned me. My houses… I was working two weeks out of every month just to pay interest on the houses and cars. Then I discovered that I actually had total freedom and that stuff didn't own me anymore, beautiful opportunity to go on a journey for myself and discover…
- Alaska is…
- …an island. A huge island. Less than one per cent of it is navigable by a car. It is an adventure. It is a huge beautiful place with this newfound freedom. I grew up on a reservation and I didn't travel. Up here: travelling! I traveled to Fairbanks, went up to Barrow, went over to Valdiez on a ferry to see amazing beauty. Unending... Being on a ferry for four hours, and you're going Alaska on both sides!
- …an island. A huge island. Less than one per cent of it is navigable by a car. It is an adventure. It is a huge beautiful place with this newfound freedom. I grew up on a reservation and I didn't travel. Up here: travelling! I traveled to Fairbanks, went up to Barrow, went over to Valdiez on a ferry to see amazing beauty. Unending... Being on a ferry for four hours, and you're going Alaska on both sides!
- What is the spirit of Alaska in terms of values people live?
- For me it is the nature. It is getting out of the city, getting away from the city lights. Here in this cabin in Willow at night we have a chance to see northern lights and it is connected. And the seasons, it's amazing! The winters are killers, the summers are to die for! The daylight all summer long is awesome.
- For me it is the nature. It is getting out of the city, getting away from the city lights. Here in this cabin in Willow at night we have a chance to see northern lights and it is connected. And the seasons, it's amazing! The winters are killers, the summers are to die for! The daylight all summer long is awesome.
Alaska is an island. A huge island. Less than one per cent of it is navigable by a car. It is an adventure. It is a huge beautiful place with this newfound freedom.
- Since time immemorial the Native peoples of Alaska have lived here. Then the Russians came. Then Alaska became a part of the United States. In the end, who has the most claim?
- I'd say it would be the Natives. If you look back in time what happened in Alaska also happened in the 'Lower 48'. 'The Great White Father' on the east showed up and these people could have roamed freely and freely in spirit back in those days and you could travel back in those days. You could drink from any stream, breath the air, it was totally a garden of Eden. And Alaska was the same thing. It is amazing that people could live here in Alaska for 10,000 years or more and do OK.
- I'd say it would be the Natives. If you look back in time what happened in Alaska also happened in the 'Lower 48'. 'The Great White Father' on the east showed up and these people could have roamed freely and freely in spirit back in those days and you could travel back in those days. You could drink from any stream, breath the air, it was totally a garden of Eden. And Alaska was the same thing. It is amazing that people could live here in Alaska for 10,000 years or more and do OK.
- The First Peoples of Alaska, including Inupiaq, Tlingit, Athabaskans, Yupik, Alutiiq and others, how large is their role in modern Alaska today?
- That's an interesting question… Being Native I can associate with them but I am not from here but I have visited group learning circles and was making observations. There are similarities with the 'Lower 48. The removal of cultures, of spiritual connection that we did have. And brokenness of the Natives: the abuse. The spousal abuse, the alcoholism, child abuse, child neglect. That is very prominent among the majority of the Native people that I have met up here.
- That's an interesting question… Being Native I can associate with them but I am not from here but I have visited group learning circles and was making observations. There are similarities with the 'Lower 48. The removal of cultures, of spiritual connection that we did have. And brokenness of the Natives: the abuse. The spousal abuse, the alcoholism, child abuse, child neglect. That is very prominent among the majority of the Native people that I have met up here.
- Alaska and the 'Lower 48': do people do things differently there?
- First thing I found interesting coming up here was you either live in Alaska or live outside. It is like a foreign land, a foreign country. Alaska is kind of an experiment. Its main income has been oil – and recently the oil royalties have been almost totally eliminated – and the military. So when I'd sit in my circles back in Montana around the elderly they talked about how war time spending caused the biggest bankruptcy of the nation. You want to destroy a nation? Military spending does it because once the money spent – it's been spent in bullets, it's not in the productive self-efficient economy. When I got up here in Alaska the amount of people that make their living off the military spending have found prejudices against humanity… Money controls the decisions. More so than I've lived before in the 'Lower 48'.
- First thing I found interesting coming up here was you either live in Alaska or live outside. It is like a foreign land, a foreign country. Alaska is kind of an experiment. Its main income has been oil – and recently the oil royalties have been almost totally eliminated – and the military. So when I'd sit in my circles back in Montana around the elderly they talked about how war time spending caused the biggest bankruptcy of the nation. You want to destroy a nation? Military spending does it because once the money spent – it's been spent in bullets, it's not in the productive self-efficient economy. When I got up here in Alaska the amount of people that make their living off the military spending have found prejudices against humanity… Money controls the decisions. More so than I've lived before in the 'Lower 48'.
- Do reality TV shows genuinely portray Alaska or they distort it?
- The landscape is correct but there but a lot of sensationalism. There's a lot of scripting and there are a lot of retakes. It is not natural, it is not as spontaneous as it shows on TV. I met those people and talked about it, how they had to take it over and over again. It sensational, it is about selling TV time. The movie business, 'The Deadliest Catch', 'Ice Road Truckers' and all that, I don't know if people know, the biggest part of it was sponsored by Alaska government. They had a huge amount of funds that was being used for the film industry.
- The landscape is correct but there but a lot of sensationalism. There's a lot of scripting and there are a lot of retakes. It is not natural, it is not as spontaneous as it shows on TV. I met those people and talked about it, how they had to take it over and over again. It sensational, it is about selling TV time. The movie business, 'The Deadliest Catch', 'Ice Road Truckers' and all that, I don't know if people know, the biggest part of it was sponsored by Alaska government. They had a huge amount of funds that was being used for the film industry.
- Where, in your opinion, is the most beautiful place in Alaska? Why did you pick that place and why is it so special to you?
- My special place in Alaska is in my head. It's the freedom of seeing nature and seeing the mountains. The favorite place, right off, would be traveling to Valdiez. Going across the water and seeing all that untouched, undamaged shoreline and trees and glacier in the background. I felt insignificant enough to appreciate the spark that gives me life.
- My special place in Alaska is in my head. It's the freedom of seeing nature and seeing the mountains. The favorite place, right off, would be traveling to Valdiez. Going across the water and seeing all that untouched, undamaged shoreline and trees and glacier in the background. I felt insignificant enough to appreciate the spark that gives me life.
In the pre-religious sense, we, the Indians, didn't have an outside entity to tell us who to worship or what to worship. My energy comes from the sun. It comes from the air and I take that in myself.
- What are you favorite Alaskan foods? Do you have a special recipe?
- Borsch. It is Russian but I link it to Alaska. I have many Russian friends here and it is always available and served with a smile. It is a connection, it is not just a borsch. It is a connection with the people who serve it to and it is a connection with the culture. A connection to the generations.
- Borsch. It is Russian but I link it to Alaska. I have many Russian friends here and it is always available and served with a smile. It is a connection, it is not just a borsch. It is a connection with the people who serve it to and it is a connection with the culture. A connection to the generations.
- What do you know about the Russian America or Russian heritage in Alaska?
- I know some of the history. There's clashes in the culture also… I have a question that bounces around in my head and it is the same with Alaska purchase as it was with Louisiana purchase. How could an outside entity come in and claim somebody else's home? And then sell it to a third party? And make it work? It's like if somebody comes to your home: OK, hey, you have a nice home, we going to take it away, take everything you have. And we will humiliate you for it.
- I know some of the history. There's clashes in the culture also… I have a question that bounces around in my head and it is the same with Alaska purchase as it was with Louisiana purchase. How could an outside entity come in and claim somebody else's home? And then sell it to a third party? And make it work? It's like if somebody comes to your home: OK, hey, you have a nice home, we going to take it away, take everything you have. And we will humiliate you for it.
- This year is the 150th anniversary of Alaska purchase by the United States: are you aware of this event?
- I am, yes. I can't remember the president who bought it but he was shamed doing it and they called it 'The great refrigerator in the North'. But I found it interesting, right? After the United States bought it, the rumors said, the records that I've found, is that they actually paid for Alaska by the fur trade alone. It was paid for the amount of money that came in from harvesting the seals and those fur animals.
- I am, yes. I can't remember the president who bought it but he was shamed doing it and they called it 'The great refrigerator in the North'. But I found it interesting, right? After the United States bought it, the rumors said, the records that I've found, is that they actually paid for Alaska by the fur trade alone. It was paid for the amount of money that came in from harvesting the seals and those fur animals.
- How do you feel towards Russia as a country?
- I am an American. I grew up in America and it was 'Bad Russians this, bad Russians that!' But when I came up here it was amazing to have been exposed to the Russian culture. One of my best friends is married to a Russian woman and that Russian connection has just bloomed..
- I am an American. I grew up in America and it was 'Bad Russians this, bad Russians that!' But when I came up here it was amazing to have been exposed to the Russian culture. One of my best friends is married to a Russian woman and that Russian connection has just bloomed..
- America and Russia: are we enemies? Or are we not?
- Politically speaking, we are. And by knowing people, Russians are awesome!
- Politically speaking, we are. And by knowing people, Russians are awesome!
- If you had an opportunity to meet and talk to an ordinary Russian, what would you say?
- First of all, I'd tell myself to shut up and ask questions. And get the Russian to tell me his or her journey. To understand that individual's perspective. To enter his or her life and tell me what you see. To listen and to get the flavor of the personality, what are the Russian's hot spots. And then I would be happy to share mine.
- First of all, I'd tell myself to shut up and ask questions. And get the Russian to tell me his or her journey. To understand that individual's perspective. To enter his or her life and tell me what you see. To listen and to get the flavor of the personality, what are the Russian's hot spots. And then I would be happy to share mine.
- What is your version of the American dream?
- When I got married, I was 18. My American dream was to have a family and have a business and have a ranch. That went to heck. I left the ranch and I got into a business in town. American dream again was to have my business! And it crashed with a divorce. After that crash I came to Alaska and now my personal American dream is to be me. To be connected to my spirituality. To be connected to my God and not having anybody, another person telling me who to be. I now have very little possessions but I have it so close to be spiritually connected to have my true self. It's an amazing journey. In the pre-religious sense, we, the Indians, didn't have an outside entity to tell us who to worship or what to worship. My energy comes from the sun. It comes from the air and I take that in myself. I don't have a third party doing that and it is the same thing with religion. In my journey I have come to a conclusion is that the only thing spirituality and religion have in common is they both are addictionary. Spirituality is a connection with myself, I feel God, I feel like I am a nerve-ending of that energy. When I want to connect with God, I listen to a child. Listen to his questions or listen to his laughter. Laughter is universal language and that is one of my magics. And in my belief is that we're all connected. If I have a doubt then I am connected and that spark of energy tells me I am alive!
- When I got married, I was 18. My American dream was to have a family and have a business and have a ranch. That went to heck. I left the ranch and I got into a business in town. American dream again was to have my business! And it crashed with a divorce. After that crash I came to Alaska and now my personal American dream is to be me. To be connected to my spirituality. To be connected to my God and not having anybody, another person telling me who to be. I now have very little possessions but I have it so close to be spiritually connected to have my true self. It's an amazing journey. In the pre-religious sense, we, the Indians, didn't have an outside entity to tell us who to worship or what to worship. My energy comes from the sun. It comes from the air and I take that in myself. I don't have a third party doing that and it is the same thing with religion. In my journey I have come to a conclusion is that the only thing spirituality and religion have in common is they both are addictionary. Spirituality is a connection with myself, I feel God, I feel like I am a nerve-ending of that energy. When I want to connect with God, I listen to a child. Listen to his questions or listen to his laughter. Laughter is universal language and that is one of my magics. And in my belief is that we're all connected. If I have a doubt then I am connected and that spark of energy tells me I am alive!
It is the same with Alaska purchase as it was with Louisiana purchase. How could an outside entity come in and claim somebody else's home? And then sell it to a third party? And make it work? It's like if somebody comes to your home: OK, hey, you have a nice home, we going to take it away, take everything you have. And we will humiliate you for it...
- What a great single Alaskan person of past or present would you like to talk to?
- What comes to my mind is not an individual but the people. I love to talk to people, specifically to Native people that are not hypnotized, that are conscious, that can actually talk about the old ways and the experiences of life. And, also interactions that I had with Russian families, it's magic... You see, I am in construction and I work on people's houses, I've been doing it since I came up here to Alaska. And I go to a white American household and it is fast food on the table. TV is so loud that you can't even think. And the family never ever sits down and eat together. I go to a Russian family and the first thing is a bowl of borsch! And talking and there's no TV. And the connection and the human interaction that I get from a Russian family is what I remember way back.
- What comes to my mind is not an individual but the people. I love to talk to people, specifically to Native people that are not hypnotized, that are conscious, that can actually talk about the old ways and the experiences of life. And, also interactions that I had with Russian families, it's magic... You see, I am in construction and I work on people's houses, I've been doing it since I came up here to Alaska. And I go to a white American household and it is fast food on the table. TV is so loud that you can't even think. And the family never ever sits down and eat together. I go to a Russian family and the first thing is a bowl of borsch! And talking and there's no TV. And the connection and the human interaction that I get from a Russian family is what I remember way back.
- What will Alaska be like in 2034, 17 years from now?
- Honestly? I fear with political powers wanting to go to war. With political powers and money powers poisoning our Earth. And we hear about global warming... I travel a lot to the States. I traveled to New Zealand, to Scotland and Ireland. And I see the same thing: nature is telling us story. The trees are dying. When I started to fly to Alaska in 2006, I was flying from Seattle to Anchorage. You chase the sun, it goes with the same speed and you follow the daylight. And the past 4 years flying from Seattle to Anchorage, I noticed a layer of brown out there. It is a thick layer of brown. Constant. And just a couple of years ago I went back to the mountains that I grew up upon. When I was up there, I used to be standing on a specific high spot and look 60-70 miles and see the town on horizon. Now I can't even see half of that distance because the air there is thick. It is polluted. So the future, people, cars, I don't see it. I see poisoned Earth…
- Honestly? I fear with political powers wanting to go to war. With political powers and money powers poisoning our Earth. And we hear about global warming... I travel a lot to the States. I traveled to New Zealand, to Scotland and Ireland. And I see the same thing: nature is telling us story. The trees are dying. When I started to fly to Alaska in 2006, I was flying from Seattle to Anchorage. You chase the sun, it goes with the same speed and you follow the daylight. And the past 4 years flying from Seattle to Anchorage, I noticed a layer of brown out there. It is a thick layer of brown. Constant. And just a couple of years ago I went back to the mountains that I grew up upon. When I was up there, I used to be standing on a specific high spot and look 60-70 miles and see the town on horizon. Now I can't even see half of that distance because the air there is thick. It is polluted. So the future, people, cars, I don't see it. I see poisoned Earth…
