Hannah Solomon celebrates 100 years with friends, family, celebration
Published Saturday, October 11, 2008
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FAIRBANKS — There was something remarkable in the room at Hannah Solomon’s birthday party on Friday night.
Looking around the room, one could see more than six generations of family sharing hugs, kisses and memories as little ones ran between the legs of adults.
The party was much more than a celebration of Solomon’s 100th birthday; it was the celebration of everything she had done in those hundred years and all of the lives she had touched along the way.
Sitting at the front of the room, Solomon said she was pleased to see her life’s work sitting before her.
“My family have been the most important thing to me,” she said. “I met my goal, and my birthday would be nothing if my family wasn’t here.”
Not only has Solomon spent the last hundred years being a matriarch for her 17 children, 68 grandchildren, 138 great-grandchildren, 122 great-great grandchildren and 30 great-great-great grandchildren, but she’s also responsible for helping to establish the Fairbanks Native Association by serving as one of the first employees, according to her youngest daughter, Daisy Stevens. Solomon’s careers include being mayor of Fort Yukon, a social worker with FNA and countless volunteer work in the Interior.
“My mother has been an excellent teacher,” Stevens said. “She’s guided all of her children and their children on how to treat each other. She’s always been a very gentle woman, even when my brothers were in trouble as kids.”
Daisy said she had many fond memories growing up at Fairbanks Native Association dances and fundraisers as her mother worked hard to raise money for the many social programs FNA offers.
“Tonight is an honor to see so many people here to celebrate my mother’s birthday. I just want to see my mom happy,” Stevens said.
Stevens organized the potlatch and even managed to organize a fiddle dance in honor of her mother, who was famous for jigging.
“Mom always loved to jig, so tonight we’re doing this for her,” she said.
Solomon’s oldest son, Mardow, shared fond memories of growing up alongside his mother and siblings in Fort Yukon.
“My mother always knew what needed to be done, and she had a way of sharing it with each of us even when the men were too tired,” Mardow Solomon said.
He talked about the many years he spent watching his mother tan moose hides and the art of living the subsistence lifestyle with so many children.
“She always spent time with us, and you don’t see that anymore, but that’s what really influences me,” he said. “These days, our families grow apart and we don’t eat together anymore, there’s not the same togetherness anymore like my mother provided for all of us.”
Solomon’s grandson, Matt Stevens, was raised by his grandmother, Hannah, for a while.
“She taught me about who I am through her stories when I was a kid,” he said. Matt Stevens said he can remember his grandmother caring for him when he was ill.
“She would take me out into the woods and find things to mix together to make me feel better. And it always worked,” he said. “She also gave me cookies all the time and spoiled me rotten.”
Her youngest son, Peter Solomon, said he was proud of his mother for everything she had done to enhance social programs for the Native community.
“Our mothers make a difference early on in our lives, but tonight you can see it right here with all these people. It’s living proof,” he said.
Shirley Lee, former executive director of the Fairbanks Native Association, recognized Solomon as the matriarch of the region.
“Hannah is a wonderful woman, and her influence on FNA at the beginning and the entire Native community is remarkable,” Lee said.
Hannah Solomon was formally recognized by leaders of the many Native organizations for her service including FNA, The Tanana Chiefs Conference, Doyon Ltd., Denakkanaaga and the Alaska Federation of Natives, along with the city of Fairbanks, the Fairbanks North Star Borough and Sen. Lisa Murkowski.
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Congrats and Happy Birthday.
Nice article - Thank you
...and congrats to the birthday girl :)
Best birthday party ever.
a remarkable woman
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HANNAH!! And thanks for creating such a wonderful legacy. You rock!
Hannah Solomon is a legend in Alaska. Not only has she accomplished much that is visible to everyone, but she has also done much "behind the scenes." She has a legacy of always being there to encourage others. How wonderful that her family and friends were able to have this wonderful celebration for her, to give her the opportunity to see the fruits of her labor of love, and to enjoy the presence of all her family and friends.
Thank you News Miner for sharing this story. We could all learn something from Hannah.
I live in New York, and because of the elections, I have taken to reading papers from a lot of different states. I happened to read your article a few weeks ago regarding Hannah's 100th birthday. The article requested people send her birthday cards so she would get at least 100 hundred cards for her birthday. I'm sure that number of cards must have been surpassed. I hope she received the one I sent to her.
We are going through so many difficulties these days and the elections are starting to get to us all & nastier every day.
Hannah's story is a refreshing breather and should remind us all, what is really important.
I don't want to get in to politics, I just want to once again say Happy Birthday Hannah. I loved that she said she was seeing her life's work before her. Simply stated, but inspiring.
Happy birthday grandma and many more.
Happy Birthday Hannah Solomon!!!!
A woman who has blessed so many people across Alaska, thank you.
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