[NASW Alaska Chapter Listserve] Review of Holy Land

[Sandy Kleven]

So members might be interested in this new review.  Also on
http://skleven.tripod.com/holyland
Sandy
Holy Land by Sandra Kleven
Published: 2006
Pages: 42
Publisher: Sandra Kleven, skleven at alaska.net <mailto:skleven at alaska.net>
Synopsis  A Yup’ik Alaskan reluctantly reaches out for connection with those
“from away”. He prophesies that the bond between his people and the
southerners whose time in Alaska seems fleeting, will endure. The big
question is what the southerners will choose to learn.
Review  Initially developed as a monologue, Holy Land is an important
narrative poem in which the voice of an Alaskan Yup’ik man by turns pleads,
challenges, disturbs, beguiles and, ultimately, compels the listener to
listen to a story which the narrator isn’t even sure he wants to tell. The
monologue turns into a dialogue as the reader is imagined to be answering
back.
Think of the wise, ancient storyteller around the campfire. Think of the
unwelcome guest at the wedding in the Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner but add
the guest’s perception that he has embarrassed or inconvenienced you. Think
of the person you know who always seem to see through you despite your best
efforts and intentions to put your best foot forward. Even though that
person makes you uncomfortable, you can’t quite dismiss them because they
know you. Think of this and you know the Yup’ik man.
Through his narrative, we learn of ourselves, southerners (called Gussaqs)
who come for a time, maybe 3 years, maybe fifteen, but who inevitably go
away. We are invited to contrast our tourist time in the north with the
experience of the native Alaskans who are in it for the long haul – over
10,000 years.
The Yup’ik man knows that when we inevitably return, intrigued and answering
some kind of call, we will wear our knowledge or lack transparently. He
promises he will know if we have learned. He promises, “I will reach for
those places touched by my stories
 I will reclaim parts of you that belong
now to us
 I will find the mark I left on you. And you will welcome the bold
intrusion. You will listen to me.”
Even if you’ve never been to Alaska you will recognize the Yup’ik’s pain of
being treated as a tourist attraction, a curiosity or as one who is
different. And reluctantly, you will relate to his audience.
Sandra Kleven is an exciting talent who speaks with a voice that will not be
stilled. Her words evoke the pain of abandonment and betrayal and challenge
us to grow. This narrative really made me pay attention. I felt recognized
and I listened.
 - Esther Ewing- The Change Alliance – New York City



Sandra L Kleven
3978 Defiance Street
Anchorage, Alaska 99504
907 332 6735


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