North to the Future
I have always read our state motto as a definitive statement, one deserving of a finite period after it, as in “North to the Future.” Period. There were never any ifs, ands, or buts about it. Lately, I wonder if there should be a question mark after our state motto, or whether or not we should put “Future” in quotation marks. Perhaps, we should do both?
“Future” refers to time that is still to come – the time right after you read this. It always refers to something that has yet to happen. “North to the Future” alludes to one heading north – making the brave trek up the Alcan to embark on an adventurous new life in the 49th state. Our state motto, adopted in 1967, is meant to represent Alaska as a land of promise.
While we firmly hold onto the first part of our motto, “North,” the latter part is a bit nebulous. “Future” is not nostalgic. As a human race we have to look forward, which is a fundamentally optimistic proposition. As we go about our daily lives, our progress in the present should perpetually make life easier, safer, and brighter for subsequent generations.
In 2020, the road ahead for our beloved state has never been more precarious. Our way forward was unstable before the pandemic hit. We cannot, as we all know, rely on proceeds from oil to fund our state. While this is a scary position, it doesn’t need to be. As a state we get to – rather we have to – decide how to proceed. We have the opportunity to choose, define, and implement our own future. We get to dream – collectively.
What is “Alaska” when it can’t fall back on a bucket of oil money? What does Alaska represent now? What is going to define us? Are we still brave? Are we still pioneers? Can we claim and live up to our state motto? What about our other slogan; The Last Frontier? Generally, this refers to our late addition to the lower 48 as a vast untouched land full of natural splendors. But, what if “The Last Frontier” also meant something else? What if it meant something more?
What if our nickname alluded to one of our latent Super Strengths? What if we used it to recapture the full potential of our state motto? What if “The Last Frontier” represented Alaska as a place of continued exploration? As a place where we push the boundaries of what we assume are givens? What if we used the extremes of our natural environment as catalysts to further the exploration of our built environment? What if we used these givens as tools to further design? What if we became leaders in new fields of study? What if we embodied the untapped potential all around us and capitalized on it to blaze a new trail forward for our state? What if we polished our slightly tarnished allure to regain our position as a state where people bravely relocated looking for opportunity?
Alaska portrays a place filled with potential; a place of dreams; a place for dreamers. It represents a place with a rich indigenous culture. Alaska has boatloads of potential, but no one wants to live in a state with a motto, “North to the ‘Future’?” Let’s choose, as Alaskans, to live in a state with a motto, “North to the Future.” Period. Definitively, without hesitation, let’s look up, let’s look forward, and let’s dream again.