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Photos: Fred John's 'Walk for Tsucde'

On May 1, 2014, coincidentally on the day the Interior Department announced it would consider taking Alaska tribal land into trust, Fred John, 71, of Delta Junction began his month-long walk to support the indigenous use of the land. Fred is a son of the late Katie John, who was the lead plaintiff in a series of lawsuits that were aimed at ensuring Alaska Native fishing and indigenous rights.

Fred is planning to walk from Dot Lake to Anchorage, and arrive on May 31, the annual first day that Ahtna shareholders put in their fishwheels. Although a bill is still moving through the Alaska Legislature to declare an official day in honor, the John family will celebrate the first unofficial Katie John Day. All this comes just before Anchorage hosts its first National Congress of American Indians conference, June 8-11.

The John family explained, "We need our young people to know what the Katie John case meant and what our elders were trying to preserve for future generations. Please see the Facebook page, Walk for Tsucde, and the website."

Read more: 'Walk for Tsucde' carries worthwhile message for indigenous rights

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