Virginia Pete, Ahtna Language Expert, Passes Away

Virginia Pete (Archive Photo, Country Journal)  

CULTURAL TEACHER VIRGINIA PETE 

Saturday, October 22nd, 2022

Virginia Pete, who was born in 1930, passed away in October, 2022.  Born at Dry Creek, she and her family were forced by the U.S. military to leave their homes in mid-winter during World War II, a tragedy that is long remembered in the valley. 

Dry Creek is located across the Richardson Highway from Gulkana Airport. Virginia Pete's family moved to Tazlina. 

Virginia Pete was extraordinarily active in cultural matters. Along with other Ahtna people, Virginia helped write the Ahtna Dictionary with Dr. Jim Kari of the University of Alaska in Fairbanks. The dictionary was printed in 1990. A bilingual teacher for the Copper River School District, she also taught language and traditional sewing to school children in the valley. She worked in cultural camps, and with Ahtna Heritage Center. 

Virginia Pete worked at Cross Road Medical Center for many years. 

SERVICES

Thursday, October 27 at 1:00 PM - Anchorage Service at Legacy Heritage Chapel at Angelus (440 E Klatt Rd)

Friday, October 28 at 6:00 PM -Visitation at Tazlina Hall. We will leave at 12 PM with her body to head home. 

Saturday, October 29 at 2:00 PM - Funeral at Glennallen Chapel with potlatch after