Walter Soboleff facts for kids

Walter Alexander Soboleff (born November 14, 1908 – died May 22, 2011) was an important Tlingit leader. He was a respected scholar, elder, and religious figure. Walter Soboleff made history as the first Native Alaskan to become a Presbyterian minister.

Walter Soboleff's Early Life

Walter Soboleff was born in Killisnoo, Alaska, on November 14, 1908. His mother was Tlingit, and his father was Russian. His Tlingit name was Ka'jaḵ'tii, which means One Slain in Battle.

His mother, Anna Hunter, had lost her parents in Sitka. She traveled by canoe to Killisnoo to live with her aunt. Walter's father, Alexander "Sasha" Soboleff, lived in Killisnoo with his family. Walter's grandfather, Ivan Soboleff, was a Russian Orthodox minister. He had moved to Killisnoo from San Francisco in the 1890s. Walter's father died when Walter was twelve years old. His mother later remarried.

Growing Up in Tenakee

Walter grew up in Tenakee. He first went to a U.S. Government School there. When he was five, he enrolled at the Sheldon Jackson School, a boarding school in Sitka.

At just ten years old, Walter began working as a Tlingit language interpreter. He helped doctors during the terrible 1918 flu pandemic in Southeast Alaska. This was a very serious illness that affected many people.

First Jobs and College

In 1925, when Walter was a freshman in high school, he got his first job. He worked at the Hood Bay fish cannery. He earned 25 cents an hour, which was a common wage at the time.

Later in 1925, Soboleff sailed from Sitka to Seattle. From Seattle, he hitchhiked to Oregon Agricultural College. However, he could only stay for one semester. This was because of money problems during the Great Depression. He hitchhiked back to Seattle and stayed at a YMCA until he could continue his studies.

In 1933, Walter won a scholarship to the University of Dubuque. He earned his first college degree in education in 1937. He then continued his studies and earned a master's degree in divinity from the same university in 1940.

Returning to Alaska

Walter Soboleff returned to Sitka, Alaska, in the summer of 1940. He worked in cold storage or as a seine fisherman. He became an ordained Presbyterian minister. He also married Genevieve Ross, a Haida woman and nurse. Genevieve was important in helping to bring back the Haida language in Alaska. Walter and Genevieve had four children: Janet, Sasha, Walter Jr., and Ross.

Ministry and Community Work

In 1940, Soboleff moved to Juneau, Alaska. He became a minister at Memorial Presbyterian Church. This church was mainly Tlingit at first, but it grew to include people from many different backgrounds. He also started broadcasting radio news in the Tlingit language.

Walter Soboleff traveled to many faraway places in Alaska. He visited fishing villages and even lighthouses to help people as part of his ministry. He also became a strong voice for Tlingit and Native Alaskan people. He worked to protect their culture, human rights, and the rights of all indigenous people in Alaska.

Walter Soboleff's Later Years

Walter Soboleff passed away at his home in Juneau, Alaska, on May 22, 2011. He was 102 years old. His first wife, Genevieve, died in 1986. He married his second wife, Stella Alice Atkinson, in 1999. Stella passed away in 2008.

Legacy and Special Honors

Alaska Governor Sean Parnell ordered that all state flags be lowered to half-staff to honor Walter Soboleff. Hundreds of people, including the Governor, attended his memorial service in Juneau. The service was shown live on television across Alaska.

In May 2015, the Sealaska Heritage Institute opened a new building in downtown Juneau. It is a cultural and research center named the Walter Soboleff Building.

In 2016, the U.S. Congress created a special group in his memory. It is called the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children.