John Fredson
Encyclopedia
John Fredson, also known as "Zhoh Gwatsan" (Wolf Smeller), was a Neetsaii Gwich'in (American Indian tribe in the Na-Dene Language family), and was born near Table Mountain in the Sheenjek River
watershed in 1896.
to graduate from a university, Sewanee, The University of the South
, and was the primary founder of the Venetie Indian Reserve, the largest reservation
in Alaska. The Reserve was established in 1941 and was approximately 1.4 million acres (5,700 km²) at the time of its establishment. John Fredson was also part of the climbing party of Archdeacon Hudson Stuck
, who led the party which ascended Denali, the highest peak in North America. Fredson was 14 at the time of the ascent and was the base camp
manager. His role is documented in the book about the 1913 climb, Ascent of Denali. He stayed at base camp for 31 days by himself, hunting caribou and Dall sheep, while awaiting the return of the climbing party. He saved his ration of sugar for their return.
for tuberculosis
patients at a hospital in Fort Yukon, Alaska
. The hospital was the only one in the far north, and was often over whelmed by Alaska Native patients, primarily Gwich’in
, needing treatment for epidemics which they had no immunity to. John worked at the hospital upon his return from Sewanee
, and after service in the U.S. Military. He then established the community of Venetie, with the help of the many Neetsaii Gwich'in in the Chandalar River
watershed. He also had the assistance of Chief Johnny Frank, a notable medicine man
and storyteller among the Gwich'in whose own life exploits are detailed in the book Neerihiinjik: We Traveled From Place to Place. Fredson also worked with the famed linguist Edward Sapir
while at Sewanee, and helped to place Gwich'in within the Na-Dene language family. This work is documented in the book John Fredson Edward Sapir Ha'a Googwandak. His work on communicating Gwich'in concepts of space and time may have also impacted Sapir's later work that established the Sapir–Whorf hypothesis
.
Sheenjek River
The Sheenjek River is a 200-mile long river in the U.S. state of Alaska. It begins in the eastern part of the Brooks Range and flows southward until joining with the Porcupine River northeast of Fort Yukon, Alaska. It derives its name from the Gwich'in word, written in the modern orthography,...
watershed in 1896.
Historical significance
He was the first Alaska NativeAlaska Natives
Alaska Natives are the indigenous peoples of Alaska. They include: Aleut, Inuit, Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, Eyak, and a number of Northern Athabaskan cultures.-History:In 1912 the Alaska Native Brotherhood was founded...
to graduate from a university, Sewanee, The University of the South
Sewanee, The University of the South
The University of the South is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Sewanee, Tennessee. It is owned by twenty-eight southern dioceses of the Episcopal Church and its School of Theology is an official seminary of the church. The university's School of Letters offers graduate...
, and was the primary founder of the Venetie Indian Reserve, the largest reservation
Indian reservation
An American Indian reservation is an area of land managed by a Native American tribe under the United States Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs...
in Alaska. The Reserve was established in 1941 and was approximately 1.4 million acres (5,700 km²) at the time of its establishment. John Fredson was also part of the climbing party of Archdeacon Hudson Stuck
Hudson Stuck
Hudson Stuck with Harry P. Karstens co-led the first expedition to successfully climb the South Peak of Mount McKinley.Stuck, an Episcopal Archdeacon, was born in London and graduated from King's College London...
, who led the party which ascended Denali, the highest peak in North America. Fredson was 14 at the time of the ascent and was the base camp
Mountaineering
Mountaineering or mountain climbing is the sport, hobby or profession of hiking, skiing, and climbing mountains. While mountaineering began as attempts to reach the highest point of unclimbed mountains it has branched into specialisations that address different aspects of the mountain and consists...
manager. His role is documented in the book about the 1913 climb, Ascent of Denali. He stayed at base camp for 31 days by himself, hunting caribou and Dall sheep, while awaiting the return of the climbing party. He saved his ration of sugar for their return.
Life's work
In his later years, Fredson built a solariumSolarium
Solarium may refer to:* Similar to a Sunroom, a room built largely of glass to afford exposure to the sun. Solariums have glass roofs , unlike sunrooms...
for tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
patients at a hospital in Fort Yukon, Alaska
Fort Yukon, Alaska
As of the census of 2000, there were 595 people, 225 households, and 137 families residing in the city. The population density was 85.0 people per square mile . There were 317 housing units at an average density of 45.3 per square mile...
. The hospital was the only one in the far north, and was often over whelmed by Alaska Native patients, primarily Gwich’in
Gwich’in
The Gwich’in , literally "one who dwells" or "resident of [a region]", are a First Nations/Alaska Native people who live in the northwestern part of North America mostly above the Arctic Circle...
, needing treatment for epidemics which they had no immunity to. John worked at the hospital upon his return from Sewanee
Sewanee, The University of the South
The University of the South is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Sewanee, Tennessee. It is owned by twenty-eight southern dioceses of the Episcopal Church and its School of Theology is an official seminary of the church. The university's School of Letters offers graduate...
, and after service in the U.S. Military. He then established the community of Venetie, with the help of the many Neetsaii Gwich'in in the Chandalar River
Chandalar River
The Chandalar River is a river in Alaska. Its peak flow recorded by the USGS was 62,800 cubic feet per second , on June 9, 1968....
watershed. He also had the assistance of Chief Johnny Frank, a notable medicine man
Medicine man
"Medicine man" or "Medicine woman" are English terms used to describe traditional healers and spiritual leaders among Native American and other indigenous or aboriginal peoples...
and storyteller among the Gwich'in whose own life exploits are detailed in the book Neerihiinjik: We Traveled From Place to Place. Fredson also worked with the famed linguist Edward Sapir
Edward Sapir
Edward Sapir was an American anthropologist-linguist, widely considered to be one of the most important figures in the early development of the discipline of linguistics....
while at Sewanee, and helped to place Gwich'in within the Na-Dene language family. This work is documented in the book John Fredson Edward Sapir Ha'a Googwandak. His work on communicating Gwich'in concepts of space and time may have also impacted Sapir's later work that established the Sapir–Whorf hypothesis
Sapir–Whorf hypothesis
The principle of linguistic relativity holds that the structure of a language affects the ways in which its speakers are able to conceptualize their world, i.e. their world view...
.