About Me

 My name is ᐱᒼᐸᐦᑕᐃᐧᐣ pimpahtawin ᒪᐦᑫᓰᐢ mahkesîs, or Running Fox.  Most call me J.R., after my great-grandfather, John Richard Price.  I am Metis Cree on my paternal grandfather's side of the family.

Descended from the Adams and LaFountaines, of the Red River Metis Settlement, and their subsequent dislocations and relocations before and during the North-West (Riel) Rebellion of 1885 in Canada, and later in Montana.  

My grandfather always said we were the Landless Indians.  The Landless Cree.  It was a challenging family history to be sure.  There was a time when I was younger that 14 of us lived in a little upstairs apartment in Great Falls, Montana.  It has been quite the journey since then.  I went on to become the first of my generation to graduate high school and go onto college.  I have earned my Bachelor of Liberal Arts, as well as my Master of Human Services and another Master of Professional Counseling.  That being said, I am descended from many different people, from many different nations, making me first and  foremost an American.  As grandmother would say, "We're a Heinz 57."   

Well, I think that's what drew my grandfather to homestead outside of Fairbanks in the Great Land, after his military duty in Alaska during WWII.  (BTW-That was a time when Russia was considered our ally...)  Since then, my family has always had strong ties to Alaska.  My grandmother said, "Alaska was always good to me."  Alaska, an ancient homeland for so many, and a new frontier full of opportunity for so many others.  That dynamic is still playing out, and I am part of it.

My father spent some of his childhood on the family homestead too, outside what is now North Pole.  (Of course, we all know there's no REAL Santa there!)  They used working dog sleds.  Once grandmother fell off the dogsled on the way to town.  Of course, the dogs kept going!  She was left out there pregnant and alone.  Very dangerous with cold and the all too real wolves!  She made it though!  They were tough.  They had to be.  They dug a hole in the permafrost for their refrigerator, and of course they had an outhouse.  Well separated of course.  It was real frontier life!

Fast forward, most of my family is in Anchorage during the Great Quake of 1964.  I grew up hearing the terrible tales of the devastation to Anchorage, and witnessed its hopeful recovery to become the hub it is today.  I spoke my first word in Anchorage, "Peppermint!"  I havent stopped talking since.  

Then, back and forth to Montana over the years, I was often reminded by family and friends about the many wonders of Alaska, especially the generous and kindhearted people.  It was a time when neighbors really had each others' backs.  It's still that way in some places out there.  

I remember, I long kept a little box with fur scraps from various Alaskan animals, such as the Polar Bear, Black Bear various Seals, and yes, even Fox.  My mother had a carved ivory Billican, and a carved miniature Seal I would often play with.  I still have my specially made Mukluks that I wore in the 60's, as a young child in Anchorage.  The Mukluks have a pungent smell that still brings back remembrances.
 

In 2003, I decided to return to Alaska to serve the people as a counselor.  I immediately purchased land, and have owned property in Alaska since then.  My cabin is on a couple acres of land outside of Soldotna.  

I have worked with people from Anchorage to Homer, Juneau, Sitka, Bethel, Fairbanks, Nikolaevsk, Anchor Point, Nikiski, Kenai, Soldotna, Ninilchik, Kasilof, Haines, Klukwan and many points in between.  I have worked with people across the political spectrum.  I have benefitted in many ways from the great bounty of the Great Land.  I have witnessed great changes.  I have also seen great lost opportunities.  I have watched as Alaskans are repeatedly lied to and betrayed over and over again by a self-serving political class.  Yet, the promise of Alaska remains to be fulfilled.  It is still truly a Great Land, with Great People and Great Potential!

I met Alaskan Representative Don Young in his Office in Was

hington, D.C. a few years ago.  He personally hosted me on a visit there with his fiance Anne by his side.  I remember that Don was gracious, and proud of his role as Alaska's sole Representative.  Maybe it should have been 'soul' representative.  His office was chok full of Alaskan memorabilia and artifacts.  I remember him telling me when I arrived, "You look like somebody I should know!", as he reached out to shake my hand.  I had a great picture taken with Don before I left.  That's the kind of welcoming, authentic and bold representation Alaskans deserve to have continued on the national stage and in the House in Washington, D.C.

Alaskans deserve a sincere Representative of ALL of the People!  That is why I have decided, in addition to my run in the Special House election, to also declare my candidacy for the regular U.S. House Election to be held on August 16 & November 8 of this year.  I humbly ask for the support of ALL Alaskans in this election.  I hope to see you on the campaign trail!  Let's keep Our Great Land Great Together!      

In Life & Liberty,

J.R.Myers