Dear Readers,
Happy Holidays! This issue marks the third anniversary of IdaHome magazine and what an enlightening
journey it has been. I had 20 years of experience in journalism when we started the first issue in 2019 and I knew absolutely nothing about publishing. Naysayers were aplenty, then 2020 tried to bury us, but despite challenges, I believed Idaho deserved a premiere lifestyle publication worthy of our amazing people, places, and stories. Literally thousands of pages and readers later, “Thank you” from all of us at IdaHome for proving that my dream, however crazy, could come true. My career affords me the privilege of meeting many interesting people. Some are famous, like Michelle Obama and the Dalai Lama, and others are uber-famous and not that interesting, like…well, I’ll let your imaginations fill in the blank. Most fascinating to me, however, are the normal people I interview, quietly living their lives with extraordinary stories to tell. At the top of my list would be a humble man named Horace Axtell, the Nez Perce tribal historian, language preservationist, pipe carrier, and recipient of the National Endowment for Arts National Heritage Award. A WWII veteran, “Grandfather” or “Uncle” as he was known to many, was born and died (1924-2015) on his ancestral homelands near Lapwai, Idaho. As a spiritual leader of the Seven Drum religion, the tribal wisdom Horace embodied and imparted to others inspired in me a lifelong respect for the importance and honor of being a storyteller. As a holiday gift to you, here’s a link to my TV interviews with Horace Axtell: https://vimeo.com/559200412 Telling stories is the purpose of IdaHome magazine and our writers are dedicated to the facts and art of journalism. This month we welcome Randy’L Teton, the FACE OF GOLD and a tribal consultant, with her cover feature on Idaho’s five tribes. The indigenous voices she represents are authentic and the value the tribes continue to offer to our state, history, and culture deserve volumes, but often go unnoticed. We encourage you to learn more in this issue’s “Origin Story” and by visiting the Idaho State Museum, offering artifacts, creation stories, history, and contributions of each tribe to the land and wildlife of Idaho. Holidays are about giving, and Cherie Buckner-Webb relates why being of service is imperative to living a purposeful life year-round. Our features editor, Heather Hamilton Post, explores diverse traditions old and new. Harrison Berry tackles a prickly subject for us journalists–the aggressive behavior of partisan readership. IdaHome’s entertainment editor brings this issue on storytelling to new heights with her interview with Boise’s own, The Boise Boys of HGTV. And finally, I want to personally thank Anthony Doerr, Idaho’s Pulitzer Prize-winning author, for allowing IdaHome and April Neale the honor of talking to one of America’s greatest storytellers. There’s more—so read on and ENJOY! Best wishes to you and yours,
Karen Day Publisher, Dreamer, Storyteller
Photo courtesy Idaho State Museum www.idahomemagazine.com
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