Join us in the Commemoration of an Alaskan & American Icon
The Walter Harper Project
Help us build a life size bronze statue to commemorate Walter Harper, the first person to reach the summit of Denali.
About Us:
The Walter Harper Project
Alaskans representing the Walter Harper Project have launched a drive that will culminate in a life-size bronze statue of Walter Harper, the first person to summit Denali. The statue will be placed in Fairbanks, where the 1913 expedition began. Episcopal Archdeacon Hudson Stuck and the rugged outdoorsman Harry Karstens co-led the expedition. The Koyukon-Athabascan Harper, along with Tennessean Robert Tatum, completed the four-member ascent team. Athabascan youths John Fredson and Esaias George provided vital support, including transporting supplies and equipment to the base camp. Fredson manned the basecamp while the ascent team members scaled the mountain.
The Walter Harper Project will recognize Harper’s critical role in the pioneer ascent team’s success, which was long unrecognized. Harper’s expert subsistence skills, superb athlete condition, courage, and cheerfulness moved the team forward under the most trying conditions. On summit day, Harper, the team member in the best condition, took the lead position and thus reached the peak first.
For several years, Harper served as Archdeacon Stuck’s trail guide, riverboat pilot, interpreter, and right hand man, as they traveled among the Episcopal missions, Native communities, and mining camps of Alaska’s northern Interior. Wherever they stopped, Harper’s subsistence skillset, integrity, magnetic personality, and ability to navigate in both his Athabascan culture and in mainstream American society won him admirers. He planned to become a medical missionary to Interior Alaska Natives. Tragically, when he was just 25 years old, he and his wife of seven weeks, Frances Wells Harper, drowned in the 1918 sinking of the Princess Sophia.
Walter Harper Day
On Sunday, June 7, 2020 Alaska celebrated the first annual
Walter Harper Day, in recognition of the Irish-Athabascan man who on June 7, 1913 was the first person to stand atop Denali, North America’s tallest mountain and the dominant landmark of Alaska’s Interior, Harper’s homeland. Fairbanks Senator Click Bishop introduced Senate Bill 144 “An Act establishing June 7 of each year as Walter Harper Day.” Alaska’s Senate and House of Representatives both passed the bill unanimously, and Governor Dunleavey signed the bill on April 29. The act recognizes not only Harper’s critical role in the success of the pioneer summit of Denali, but his “superb subsistence skills, his integrity, his strong sense of identity and purpose, and his ability to navigate comfortably in both the Athabascan culture and other cultures of the United States.”
Donate directly at :
Fairbanks Native Association (FNA)
3830 Cushman Street Suite 100
Fairbanks, AK 99701
Attn: Duane Hoskins
(Make the check payable to “FNA / Walter Harper Project”)
(907)452-1648
Or
Donate Online at GoFundMe.org
Be Part of the Project
Funding Information
Together we will reach our summit.
$5,957
Funds Raised of $100,000 Goal
$2,237
Donations from Individuals
$3,720
Donations from GoFundMe
$0
Donations from Gold Supporters
$0
Donations from Corporate Donors
Donors
Thank you to all who have supported the Walter Harper Project so far. Give now to join the efforts of these supporters.
Thank You!
Al & Ann Renfroe
Diane Holmstrom
Gary & Susan Wilken
Ronald & Nancy Whitten
Linda S. Belarde
Ronald Inouye
Katie McCaffrey
Angela Schmidt
Jan Harper (Petri) Haines
Margaret Asbury
Jeanne Ostnes
Michael Carey
Bill Gordon
Johanna Harper
Jimmy Vining
Stephanie Rivet
Darlene Bishop
Amy Russell-Jamgochian
Mary and Lars Ehrlander
Dan Bishop
Steven Haagenson
Angela Linn
Catherine Call
Karen Lopez
Kathy Cline
Tim Cline
Michael Harper
Karen Perdue
David Tilman
Jane Harper
Names will be updated periodically
Please let us know if you have donated but your name does not appear here.
Download Now!
Alaskan Singer & Songwriter Ben Balivet created this song to commemorate Walter Harper and support the Walter Harper Project.
Artist
To Be Determined
Searching for an Artist
Interested
The Walter Harper Project Team is currently accepting letters of interest via our Request for Qualifications. For more information download the RFQ here.
Walter Harper Project Team Members
Michael Harper
Anchorage, AK
Relative of Walter Harper
Bill Gordon
Fairbanks, AK
Life Long Alaskan; Former Staff Assistant to Governor Jay Hammond
Mary Ehrlander
Fairbanks, AK
Author of Walter Harper, Alaska Native Son; UAF Professor of History
Darlene Bishop
Fairbanks, AK
Retired teacher, Doyon, Ltd. shareholder
Tanya Kaquatosh
Fairbanks, AK
Sr. VP of Administration- Doyon, Limited
Angela J. Linn
Fairbanks, AK
Senior Collections Manager, UA Museum of the North
Updates
Keeping you informed on what is new and happening with the Walter Harper Project.
Fairbanks Native Association
501 C 3 Partnership
September 30,2019
We are excited to announce our partnership with the Fairbanks Native Association.
Walter HArper Day
Alaska Senator Click Bishop
October 2, 2019
Senator Click Bishop and staff are working with the Walter Harper Project to have a state day of recognition on June 7th for Walter Harper and the expedition.
official project announcement
Watch the News
October 22, 2019
Mary Ehrlander and Marcus Sanders are out spreading the news of the Walter Harper Project.
State of Alaska Legislative Session 2020
Walter Harper Day
January 21, 2020
A special thanks to Senator Click Bishop and Darwin Peterson for putting together the legislation to create a Walter Harper Day.
The Cordova Times Article
Walter Harper Day News
Feb. 24, 2020
Please check the link to read the story.
https://www.thecordovatimes.com/2020/02/24/bill-would-establish-june-7-as-walter-harper-day/
Walter Harper Day PASSES HOUSE & Senate!!!
Walter Harper Day Approved!
March 4, 2020
The State of Alaska House of Representatives passed SB144 creating Walter Harper Day. The bill now awaits the Governor Dunleavy's signature.
Walter harper day official!
Governor Signs Bill
April 29, 2020
Governor Dunleavy signed SB144 into law, officially designating June 7 as Walter Harper Day.
Doyon Plaza as site of sculpture
Walter Harper Statue to be Placed at Doyon Headquarters
July 24, 2020
Doyon, Limited announced that when completed, the Walter Harper statue will be housed outside of the Doyon Plaza in downtown Fairbanks. Thank you to the Doyon board of directors who approved this request.
First Alaskans Institute supports project
Elders and Youth Conference Pass Resolution of Support
October 14, 2020
The 2020 Elders and Youth Conference of the First Alaskans Institute passed a resolution of support for the Walter Harper Project. See the full resolution here.
Much More to Come!!!
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© 2020 Walter Harper Project
Last updated 2020-08-05 - ajl