Iditarod Champ Challenges AFN attendees to stand up

October 27th 7:58 pm | Carey Restino    

In a keynote address that moved from personal to philosophical, 2010 Iditarod Champion and Kotzebue resident John Baker literally pulled the crowd of the Alaska Federation of Natives convention to its feet last Thursday morning with his keynote

address.

Baker offered those gathered some insight into his personal success with the Iditarod after 16 years of trying — it was a simple formula, he said. Dream.

Try. Win.

"What are the odds that a poor little musher from Kotzebue could even consider winning the Iditarod," he asked the enthusiastic crowd. "The odds are a lot better than you think. There is no reason that any of us here in Alaska cannot

realize our dream."

Baker challenged Alaska Natives to avoid getting stuck with negative thoughts.

"Too often when things get difficult, there is a temptation to see ourselves as victims," he said. "I'm here to tell us today that we are only victims if we allow ourselves to be."

Baker paid a touching tribute to his mother, who was in the audience. At the age of six, Baker's father was killed, Marge Baker was left to raise seven children on her own while running a successful air taxi business.

"She faced each challenge with dignity, humility and a can-do attitude," he said.

"My mother raised each of us to be independent, hardworking and creative problemsolvers When Baker won the Iditarod last year, he had little time to celebrate, he said. He learned that morning that his mother was battling cancer.

"Her future seemed bleak and uncertain," Baker said.

During the weeks following the race, Baker said the media portrayed him as a hero. He didn't feel like one, he said, as he watched his mother battle cancer.

"I was humbled by her strength," he said. "She is my hero and continues to be an inspiration."

Baker went on to say that the accomplishments of Alaska Natives have also been a

source of pride and inspiration to him. From the strength of the Alaska Native

Corporations to the political power shown during last year's U.S. Senate race when

Alaska Native voters helped elect Sen. Lisa Murkowski win an a unprecedented writein campaign, Baker reminded the convention participants that they have power if they stand together.

"We have demonstrated so many times what people are capable of creating when we work together," Baker said. "We are not victims, we are a force. We will play a major role in determining Alaska's destiny."

Baker challenged those gathered to consider what they wanted their communities

to look like 40 years from now.

"The future is never guaranteed. The only thing that is certain is that we cannot go

backward, we must keep moving forward," he said.

Baker recounted a cold year on the Iditarod Trail when neither he nor his team

wanted to keep going. Rather than do so, however, he gave his dogs a command that he has for them to go - a "sssttt" sound that is distinctive to his team.

"At first, very little happened, but eventually, the leader in front of the team stood up.

Then the dog behind her stood up. Soon the whole team was standing. It wasn't very much of a move that one dog made, but then, all I had to do was say, 'Let's go,' and we were off," he said. "Sometimes that's all it takes is a willingness to stand up. How many leaders do we have in this room," he asked. "How many of you are willing to stand up and move forward together. All you have to do is stand up, stand together, stand together and take that first step. All I have to say this morning is 'let's go.'"

 

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Carey Restino can be reached at crestino@reportalaska.com, or by phone at 907-770-0820