Sadie Brower Neakok Celebration Day

Sadie Brower Neakok, considered by many to be the “Mother of Barrow,” will live in the memories of Alaskans as a selfless, caring, and courageous woman. She stands out as a wonderful example to Native youths and all Alaskans.

Born in Barrow in 1916, Sadie lived through a time of tumultuous change in the Inupiaq world. Her father, Charles Brower, had come to Alaska on a whaling ship in the 1880’s. He and Sadie’s mother, Asiang-gataq, had fourteen children. Sadie was educated at the Bureau of Indian Affairs school and attended high school in San Francisco. She studied education at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and taught elementary school until she married Nate Neakok, a whaling captain.

She and Nate had thirteen children, and they welcomed into their home many foster children as well. After a time, Sadie continued to work in the community as a schoolteacher, public health nurse, and social worker.

Sadie is best known throughout Alaska and in the Outside world as the first Native woman magistrate in Alaska, serving as judge, clerk, and coroner in Barrow from 1960 to 1977.

Sadie Neakok was truly everyone’s mother in Barrow, never turning away a hungry neighbor or a child in need. When she passed away on Sunday, June 13, Alaskans mourned their loss.

In light of the July 17 anniversary of Sadie Brower’s marriage to Nate Neakok, I, Frank H. Murkowski, Governor of the State of Alaska, do hereby declare July 17, 2004, as:

Sadie Brower Neakok Celebration Day

in Alaska, and urge all Alaskans to take a few moments to reflect on the life lessons provided by the “Mother of Barrow.”

Dated: July 8, 2004