 — U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, the first Alaska Native to serve in Congress, received a hero’s welcome Thursday when the Democrat gave the keynote address at the Alaska Federation of Natives conference in Anchorage. Those attending the largest annual gathering of Natives in Alaska showered her with standing ovations, spontaneous songs and […]){kind=link}
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, the primary Alaska Native to serve in Congress, obtained a hero’s welcome Thursday when the Democrat gave the keynote tackle on the Alaska Federation of Natives convention in Anchorage.
Those attending the biggest annual gathering of Natives in Alaska showered her with standing ovations, spontaneous songs and items, together with a bolo tie worn by her Republican predecessor, the late Don Young.
Young’s daughter Joni Nelson introduced the tie to Peltola, saying it was a passing of the mantle to her. The shock presentation got here after Young’s grownup youngsters joined Peltola on stage as she paid tribute to Young, who held Alaska’s sole seat within the House for 49 years till his demise in March.
Peltola defeated Republicans Sarah Palin and Nick Begich in an August particular election to complete out Young’s time period. Those three, together with Libertarian Chris Bye, are competing for a full two-year time period within the November election.
Another of Young’s daughters, Dawn Vallely, later mentioned on stage that her father would have been pleased with the outcomes of the particular election, gained by Peltola.
Nelson wore the white beaded tie — which options the state of Alaska in blue beads — onstage however eliminated it to position it round Peltola’s neck when she greeted the household.
“Oh, my gosh, this means the world to me,” Peltola informed The Associated Press about receiving Young’s signature bolo tie.
“I ran on continuing the legacy of Don,” she mentioned. “I really think that we would not be the state that we are without his leadership and the service that he provided for 49 years, and I want to keep that going.”
Another emotional second got here when a gaggle of delegates to the conference spontaneously broke into tune for her. When they completed, one other group started singing, adopted by a 3rd group within the cavernous downtown Anchorage conference middle.
Peltola, who’s Yup’ik, mentioned the songs had been important as a result of they contained “all their prayers, and their songs of strength, faith, love, hope, unity and wisdom.”
In lighter moments, a number of delegates to the conference posed for selfies with Peltola.
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Associated Press reporter Becky Bohrer in Juneau, Alaska, contributed to this report.
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