Guide to the Matthew Gilbert papers and recordings
2002-2019
Collection number: HMC-1477.
Creator: Gilbert, Matt, 1979-.
Title: Matthew Gilbert papers and recordings
Dates: 2002-2019.
Volume of collection: 0.2 cubic feet and 14.9 MB.
Language of materials: Collection materials are in English and Dinjii Zhuh K’yaa (Gwich’in).
Collection summary: Papers and recordings of a Gwich’in Athabascan author and activist from Arctic Village.
Biographical note:
Matthew (Matt) Gilbert is Gwich’in Athabascan author, photographer, activist, and entrepreneur from Arctic Village, Alaska. He is the grandson of Chief Reverend Doctor Trimble Gilbert and son of Brenda Gilbert (also of Arctic Village). Matt graduated in 2005 with his bachelor’s degree in English Rhetoric and Literature from the University of Alaska Anchorage. He also studied at Oxford University for a time and Rural Development at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He is a published author of many papers, testimonies, and several books, including Sitting at Their Feet: Gookwaii eeghai dhidii (A Young Gwich’in Athabascan’s Memoir) in 2021, The Gwich’in Climate Report in 2023, and science fiction novels The Wilkes Chronicles in 2023-2024. Matt also freelanced for many periodicals, including The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.
Collection description:
This collection contains copies of Matthew Gilbert’s published freelance writing, his climate change research notes from his interviews with Gwich’in Athabascan Elders, his written testimony that he read at the Doyon Land Exchange DEIS hearing on February 27, 2008, two letters to Matt from Clare Swan and Velma Wallis, a program from a Gwich’in production of King Lear, and two signed books from Howard Luke and M. Scott Momaday. There is also a manifesto, bylaws, and notes on forming the Alaska Native Rights League, a now-dormant Alaska Native youth movement that Matt helped form in 2009. The recordings consist of thirteen recordings of Matt listening to recordings of Elders testifying in Dinjii Zhuh K’yaa (Gwich’in) before the Berger Commission in 1984 with his grandfather Trimble and his mother Brenda. Trimble and Brenda provide English translations and context for what is said in the recordings. The last two recordings are of Matt interviewing the Gwich’in Elder Leah Druck of Venetie. Druck speaks in English and Dinjii Zhuh K’yaa (Gwich’in).
Arrangement: This collection is arranged by material source.
Digitized copies: The physical items in this collection have not been digitized. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Digital materials: The digital contents of this collection are not available online. Access may be provided on-site in the Archives research room. For more information about potential distance access to digital records, please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Rights note: The Archives holds copyright to materials in this collection created by Matthew Gilbert. The Archives has the authority to license use of items created by Trimble Gilbert. If you believe you hold copyright to other materials in the collection, please contact the Archives.
Preferred citation: Matthew Gilbert papers and recordings, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Works used in preparation of inventory:
Gilbert, Matthew. “My Story,” Matt Gilbert’s website. Last accessed September 24, 2024: https://mattgilbertak.wixsite.com/matt-gilbert.
Related materials: For more Alaska Native collections, please see our “Alaska Native archival collections” topic guide. For more Arctic research collections, please see our “Arctic research archival collections” topic guide.
Acquisition note: Matthew Gilbert gifted this collection to the Archives in 2024.
Processing information: This collection was described by Becky Butler Gallegos in 2024. Items were removed from a failing folder, and select publications were photocopied and then removed for preservation.
Container list:
| Box/Folder | Description | Dates |
| 1/1 | “Articles File 1” – Freelance publications | 2008-2012 |
| 1/2 | “Articles File 2” – Freelance publications [photocopies] | 2013-2014 |
| 1/3 | “Articles File 3” – Freelance publications [photocopies] | 2012-2014 |
| 1/4 | Climate change research notes | circa 2019 |
| 1/5 | Letters from Clare Swan and Velma Wallis | 2002, 2009 |
| 1/6 | Gwich’in King Lear program and article | 2013 April |
| 1/7 | Doyon Land Exchange DEIS hearing testimony | 2008 February 27 |
| 1/8 | Alaska Native Rights League records | circa 2009 |
| 1/9 | Signed books | undated |
| Server | “James Gilbert 1 translated by Brenda Gilbert 9.9.2024 [sic]” | 2016 |
| Server | “James Gilbert 2 translated by Brenda Gilbert 6-17-16” | 2016 June 17 |
| Server | “Lena [Leah] Druck I don’t care which way the wind blow 12-2014 B” | 2014 December |
| Server | “Lena [Leah] Druck tells of her life and family history 12-2014 A” | 2014 December |
| Server | “701_0159” | undated |
| Server | “Nina Roberts translated by Brenda Gilbert 6.17.16” | 2016 June 17 |
| Server | “Nina Roberts 2 translation by Brenda Gilbert 6.17.2016” | 2016 June 17 |
| Server | “Paul Tritt Sr. translated by Trimble Gilbert 6.6.2016” | 2016 June 6 |
| Server | “Paul Tritt Sr. 2 translated by Brenda Gilbert 6.17.2016” | 2016 June 17 |
| Server | “Silas John 1A Translated by Trimble Gilbert” | undated |
| Server | “Silas John 2 translated by Brenda Gilbert 6.17.2016” | 2016 June 17 |
| Server | “Silas John 3 translated by Brenda Gilbert 6.17.2016” | 2016 June 17 |
| Server | “Silas John 4 (Finished) and James Gilbert (started) by Trimble Gilbert | undated |
| Server | “Silas John 5 translated by Brenda Gilbert 6.17.2016” | 2016 June 17 |
| Server | “Trimble Gilbert Commentary about Elders prediction of end of oil in Alaska (6-6-2016)” | 2016 June 6 |