Tia Shoemaker Speaks on Life in the Alaskan Wilderness at Friday Morning Assembly

By ELLINA KIM, LYDIA KUHNERT, MARVIN SHIM, and ANNIE ZHU

On Friday, Jan. 10, Tia Shoemaker stood at the podium of the Assembly Hall to treat the Academy with a speech on her experience living in the wilderness of Alaska and how it has shaped her into the person she is today. 

Shoemaker is a registered Alaskan hunting guide, fishing guide, and licensed bush pilot. Raised in the Becharof National Wildlife Refuge on the Alaskan Peninsula, with the closest town to her homestead miles away in Bristol Bay, Shoemaker’s toddler and teenage years were intimately tied to the bare nature of Alaska, to the bears that stalk in the snow and the millions of salmon that return to spawn every year.

“Conservation of the wild is the passion in my life. It’s what I care about,” Shoemaker shared. “Hunting and the wilderness was something I was born into, so the wild has always been there, something I have always been a part of and interested in.”

She continued, “I work to conserve the wilderness and provide awareness to the public, so I have already been around talking to all sorts of people about the issue. When the opportunity came to come and talk to you guys I already knew what I was going to talk about.”

Shoemaker spoke on the importance of preserving the wild spaces of our country, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the spaces in the world not yet tainted by the pervasive industrialization of the modern age. Carrying a deep reverence of and stewardship for her home, Shoemaker depicted the endangerment of the wildlife in the region, “Places like Pebble Mine, which are at risk, need a public voice and voters to put the decision of wild places above resources. It really requires all of us and our voices that are going out in the world really soon to say that we care about places like these.”

Upper Lauren Lee shared her thoughts on Shoemaker’s comments on conservation, “She devoted a significant amount of time to talking about the Pebble Mine and gave us resources to make sense of what was going on. In the end, I eventually concluded that this was an unjust and unsustainable practice to be instituting this mine that would harm the ecosystems of Alaska.”

“Life there is about resourcefulness and a deep connection to the land. There are no four-wheeler trails, no man-made paths. We follow the trails made by animals like bears and caribou who know this land far better than we ever could. Hunting places me within an ancient cycle of life and death, a reality that often feels distant in modern society, and it grounds me in a way of living that’s increasing. In a way that food is always valued and never taken for granted,” Shoemaker noted.

Overall, students reflected that the assembly allowed them to view nature differently, as many students had come from more urban backgrounds. L. Lee commented, “I grew up in Hong Kong, which is one of the most densely populated cities in Asia, and so, at the beginning of the Assembly, when she was talking about how coming to Exeter was a big culture shock for her, I resonated with that a lot, but in an inverse sense.”

Senior Evan Dierberg said, “The assembly was appealing to us mostly because everyone here is struggling with the workload, and most people at Exeter are from big cities. Ms. Shoemaker showed us the other side of life, sharing her free, in-nature childhood and the innocence of being in nature without being affected by worldly and societal concerns.”

Lower Crane Lee agreed. “I realized that there were such different lives people could lead. It was really interesting to see, as someone who has lived in a really big city, New York City, for a long time, how someone from a different environment can survive and be appreciative of everything nature gives us.”

After watching the assembly and later attending the Q&A session, L. Lee reflected, “I really think that this was a unique assembly, and one that Exeter students do need, because the healing powers of nature is something that she detailed, and I think a lot of us, including myself, can benefit from that.”

Prep Berrak Karapinar echoed a similar sentiment. “My biggest takeaway was that it’s important to always open up your horizons to new perspectives whether it’s stepping out of your comfort zone or exposing yourself to a new environment.”

Prep Reya Satam noted Shoemaker’s unique speaking style, saying that “it was a breath of fresh air in comparison to the other formal ones because Ms. Shoemaker definitely had a more colloquial, casual feel to her public speaking.”

“I thought it was really important and nice and enlightening that they were trying to figure out ways to involve more people in nature,” lower Laavanya Rasiah said. 

Shoemaker delivered an engaging and thought-provoking assembly that resonated with the Academy.

“I share these stories because I am constantly reminded of how much my home has shaped me. Without these wild places, my life would look completely different. It isn’t the backdrop to my story. It is my story,” Shoemaker stated.

“Even in urban areas, people connect with nature. Wild spaces are full of life and balanced ecosystems. It’s not empty land waiting to be developed. It’s home to the bears, the salmon, and countless other species that all fit and do their part to make it healthy and vibrant. I consider myself fortunate to have grown up in a place that still feels largely untouched by humans and more — to live in a land where I’m reminded that I’m part of the food chain and not necessarily at the top of the food chain,” she added. “The moment one recognizes this, it’s a daily lesson of balance and respect. It’s a delight that keeps you aware and grounded.”

Due to our busy lives, Exonians can often forget the importance of connecting with nature, as well as the importance of conserving it. Shoemaker’s speech provided a grounding statement that encouraged us all to protect the wilderness, whether by supporting a helpful organization or understanding the impact of our everyday habits. She inspired us to view nature not just as scenery or a vacation destination but as the home supporting us all.