HUMAN

Name: Sammy John Sr.

Age: 88

Residence: Nikolai, Alaska

Occupation: Retired

Years involved with Iditarod: 50

Current Location: Nikolai, Alaska

Date of Photo: March 8, 2022

Temperature: 20 F Outdoors 

What, who or how and when did you first get involved with the Iditarod?

Move around, and pretty soon, I see dog team. Holy cow! And one of the boys telling me, “Let’s go help them. Can you pull? Or any kind?” Whatever he’s telling me to do, I do it. “Hey! Quit time!”. Well, I will tell them, when they work… “Hey! You work on Nikolai, where you come from, who I am, be happy! Let’s work together! Go forward. Be strong! Okay?” I came, see? I see what’s happening that day, when the first dog team came, I’m really proud of them. I’m say to them, proud of them today, strong. Strong team. The same thing I had. Yeah. 

What is your Why? Why are you here TODAY and involved with the Iditarod?

We all have to see that dog team. Wow! I’m really proud of them to be today, what I used to do. Everybody work together, love one another, talk to each other. Only way to go forward. Better village, better people. 

What in life do you know for sure? And I wouldn’t quit. I will keep going. I’m happy hearing my language.