FIFTH OPENING – The Sitka seine boats Hukilau and Rose Lee pump herring aboard this afternoon at the end of Deep Inlet during the fifth opening in the Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery. The opening was being held in two locations beginning at 11 a.m. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson) 

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Daily Sitka Sentinel

10,000 Steps with the Russian Ambassador

By KLAS STOLPE
Sentinel Staff Writer
    Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov likes to walk. A lot.
    “I hope to see as much of Russian history here as I can,” Antonov said upon arrival at the Sitka airport Wednesday, one of four stops in his Alaskan history and culture tour itinerary. “I must get in my 10,000 steps.”
    Sitka Fire Chief, and Interim City Administrator Dave Miller, along with Russian Orthodox Bishop David, welcomed the ambassador and his entourage at the airport, then headed to City Hall for a welcome from Mayor Gary Paxton.
    Before greeting the mayor however,  Antonov, pointing toward the O’Connell Bridge lightering facility, asked, “Can we walk here first?”
    Antonov had noted the spot from the air as the Alaska Airlines jet landed.
    He stood panning the coastline under the bridge with his cell phone and soon his entire entourage did the same.
    “I spend too much time in Washington,” he said, gazing at the scenery. “Of course, I would like to visit more. And for me it is very important to understand who you are, what you want, what you are trying to get. Just only trying to understand your hearts, your souls, and as for me just only want to narrow the misunderstanding between your people and mine, as well as to find other projects of potential cooperation.”
    Antonov was firm in what he did not like.
    “I do not want to speak to anybody through mass media,” he said. “I prefer to sit together, to discuss openly of any issue of interest.”
    Asked if he meant the way President Donald Trump conducts affairs, Antonov laughed and said “I don’t want to comment because I don’t want to be blamed for interference.”
    As for what attracted him to Alaska, he pointed out it’s close to his country, and the previous visits by Russians historically were of interest.
    “And it is like neighbors,” he said. “I like very much to repeat the proverb, ‘it is very easy to change the wife but it is impossible to change neighbor.’ That is why we are doomed to have a very good family relations. It seems to me we have a lot of similarity in history in our style of leading, our style of understanding the whole world. How it is possible to be angry when you have such beautiful views.”
    Seeming reluctant to leave the brief sunlit bridge Antonov said “Let’s walk to mayor. Remember, I want to see as much as possible outdoors.”
    At City Hall, Antonov thanked the mayor for allowing the courtesy call.
    “It has been my dream to visit your town,” he said. “I have heard that you have so many interesting Russian things and I can find a lot of Russian names here.”
    He noted the early Russians who had invested so much to be on the land and wanted to know more of that interaction with the Native people.
    “I appreciate all of your efforts to keep some of the former elements of the former Russian presence here alive,” he said. “I haven’t heard anything negative about this city, just only as a special town and special place like we call Alaska. Alaska and Far East are very close to each other.”
    Antonov said that when there is difficulty on the federal level perhaps the countries should communicate on regional ties and relations between American and Russian towns.
    “You are all family, you all know everybody,” he said.
    Antonov’s humor and charm struck again as he presented Paxton with a Russian porcelain tea set.
    When Paxton exclaimed “Oh very nice, a china set,” Antonov reassured him that “This is authentic imperial porcelain from St. Petersburg.”
    “See,” Antonov said, lifting a cup from a splendid cushioned case. “It does not say made in China. This is Russian.”

Russian ambassador Anatoly Antonov presents Sitka mayor Gary Paxton with
authentic Russian porcelain, assuring him “This is not made in China.” (Sentinel Photo by Klas Stolpe)

    The ambassador, and Paxton and wife Debbie then posed for photos at Totem Square, across from City Hall.
    “It has been a pleasure,” Paxton said.
    “I would like to welcome you to the Russian residence,” Antonov replied. “And you will enjoy Russian meals. I am sure you can find it here but you will be able to compare.”
    Next, the ambassador and group climbed to Castle Hill Historical Site, accompanied by Sitka National Historical Park superintendent Mary Miller and retired state archaeologist Dave McMahan.
    “I don’t know anything,” Antonov told the group at the site of Russia’s first “castle.”
    Miller explained the history of the Tlingit “Noow Tlein” site and the possession by Russia after seizing the land from the Tlingits in the Battle of 1804, and the place where the United States flag first flew in Alaska in 1867.
    Antonov walked past the cannons and gazed out across the horizon, listening intently to the information presented, asking if the cannons could still be used now in ceremony, and acknowledging a deeper meaning to the grassy show piece.
    “It is difficult to understand history by just a first glance,” he said. “Of course I see a lot of common in our history. For me it is very important.”
    He said he wanted people to have a positive attitude towards Russia and Russian people.
    “I would also like to convey this message that we would like to be friends,” he said. “There is nothing drastic between us from misunderstanding. What we want is just only more conversation.”
    McMahan showed him old landscaped documents and photos, while tourists took photos with and of him. And Antonov asked to see more.
    “I am so happy,” he said. “Can we walk to next place. I am so impressed.”
    The next stop was Old Sitka and the group drove to Starrigavan Bay where the Russians first settled in this area and in 1802 were driven out in an attack by the Tlingit.
    Walking onto the beach there, his suit and dress shoes steady among the rocks, seaweed, and driftwood, Antonov stooped to pick up a mussel or clam shell.
    “This is different from my youth,” he said. “Of course we have a lot of beaches and they are similar to Alaska but when I was a boy I was raised in Siberia. A town along the Irtysh River.”
    Antonov, 64, was born in Omsk. He received his doctorate in political science from the Institute of World Economy and International Relations. His doctoral dissertation was titled Controlling Nuclear Weapons As a Factor In Ensuring National And International Security.
    He served 30 years at the Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and was deputy minister of defense in 2011 and deputy minister of foreign affairs in 2016.
    Before departing Old Sitka, Antonov joked that he would build a house here, to be able to look out at the beauty the first Russians had seen.
    “I will build two houses,” he laughed.
    Antonov was told of the battles that had happened with neighboring Tlingit tribes, with Russia’s first visitings, and with Americans. It was noted the hardship of the Tlingit people in the days before and after statehood, that they were punished for practicing their culture.
    “That is something that should never happen to Native peoples,” Antonov said. “Like today, people should not meddle in the lives of other countries.”
    When reminded that the conversations on the day were to be non-political Antonov responded with a laugh, “You trapped me.”
    Antonov said he wanted to know more about the history from the Tlingit side as his embassy mostly has the Russian historical perspective.
    “I understand that it is one of the most important times,” he said. “And they could cooperate directly, but at the same time there was a lack of cooperation, but the embassy does not know of such times. And that is why when we want to assist we come here because we do not know.”
    From Old Sitka the group headed to Sitka National Historical Park to view the Russian Possession Plaque at the visitor center museum.
    Once again the ambassador was open to the wealth of information being viewed as he walked among the museum’s treasures.
    Antonov became fascinated by local Tlingit artist Peter Williams who was sewing fur in a well-lit room and by Tlingit carver Tommy Joseph at work in another.
    Antonov expressed thanks for their work and said “Treasures such as yours need to be seen world-wide.”
    Haida metals artist Charlie Skultka place a copper Tina’a pendent over Antonov’s head and Tlingit singer Louise Brady, of the Kiks.ádi Clan Point House, performed the Peace Hat (xwaal’) song.
    After the park they were welcomed into Centennial Hall to watch the New Archangel Dancers.

Russian ambassador Anatoly Antonov expresses his pleasure to New Archangel Dancers (left to right) Sarah Warren, Lisa Moore, Heleena vanVeen, and Jennifer Meabon after watching the group perform at Centennial Hall on Wednesday during his Alaska history and cultural tour in Sitka. (Sentinel Photo by Klas Stolpe)

    The visiting dignitaries were given front row seats but the ambassador declined, citing his short request and fairness to tourists crowding in.
    “I don’t want to start an international incident,” Antonov said in jest.
    He clapped along with the tourists as old time dances seemed to reach out to him from the stage.
    “I remember things such as this from my youth,” he said. “This brings me such warm pleasure.”
    He sought out the performers afterward and stopped to shake their hands. Placing his own hand over his heart he said to them, “You, you are the true ambassadors.”
    Antonov next walked out to the statue of Aleksandr Baranov and set three roses there to honor the first manager of the Russian America Company, who had established Old Sitka, or Fort St. Michael.
    Antonov was introduced to Roger Hames whose family had donated the piece.
    After a catered lunch in Centennial Hall, Bishop David showed the ambassador the Russian Bishop’s House and St. Michael’s Cathedral.
    They stopped at the St. Yakov gravesite near the Russian Blockhouse on Marine Street, and concluded their stay with a trip to the Sitka Historical Museum under the guidance of Sitka Historical Society member John Stein.
    Antonov said he was overwhelmed with the friendliness and generosity received during his visit.
    “It is very important that we blend our ideas and our realities,” he said. “It is very important. Everything is very much interesting. For me I understand Sitka but it is very difficult to take all the emotions from that time and understand them, the history, only by the first glance. I see a lot of trauma in our history and for me that is very important.”
    Antonov said he gets emotional seeing the historical places.
    “Oh, it goes without saying,” he said. “It goes without saying because I am Russian. What I want is just that other people have positive attitudes towards Russia, towards Russian people, and also would like to convey this message that we would like to be friends, that there is nothing drastic between us. Just some misunderstanding and what we want is only more conversation.”
    When told that he sounded a little political Antonov paused and smiled.
    “Come, walk with me,” he said.

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20 YEARS AGO

March 2004

Matthew C. Hunter of Sitka recently returned from Cuba as part of a St. Olaf College International and Off-Campus Studies program. Hunter, a junior physics major at St. Olaf College, is the son of Robert and Kim Hunter of Sitka.


50 YEARS AGO

March 1974

Eighth graders have returned from a visit to Juneau to see the Legislature. They had worked for it since Christmas vacation ... Clarice Johnson’s idea of a “White Elephant” sales was chosen as the best money-maker; Joe Roth won the political cartoon assignment; highest government test scorers were Ken Armstrong, Joanna Hearn, Linda Montgomery, Lisa Henry, Calvin Taylor and David Licari .....

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