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DAY 1. Thursday, Oct. 22nd: One Man’s Dream. Nick Gray and the Birth of AFN. Before the Alaska Federation of Natives became a powerful voice for Native rights, there was Nick Gray. This episode traces the remarkable story of a man whose dream of forming a statewide Native organization took shape during his worldwide travels with Ignacy Paderewski, the virtuoso Polish pianist and statesman who later helped lead Poland’s fight for independence after World War II. When Paderewski hired Gray as his valet while touring the United States in the 1920’s, Gray saw firsthand how a determined leader could unite people behind a common cause. Inspired by Paderewski’s vision and leadership, Gray returned to Alaska with a dream of his own — to lay the foundation for AFN and forever change the course of Alaska Native history.
Hosted by KNBA’s Rhonda McBride, this three-part series celebrates the Alaska Federation of Native’s 60th anniversary. It explores AFN’s colorful history — from its first gathering in October 1966 above a fur store in downtown Anchorage — to its early visionary leaders who transformed AFN into a major political force to fight for land claims, civil rights and social justice.
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