Franklin Madros

FRANKLIN MADROS was born in 1920 and was one of the first 4 babies born in the establishing village of Kaltag. His parents were Jack and Diana Madros. He grew up living a subsistence lifestyle with his parents; hunting, trapping and fishing. He started school in Kaltag in 1926 with BIA until third grade. Franklin joined the army in 1942 and served until 1946. He was primarily stationed in Alaska but also traveled to the lower 48. In 1949 he married Anna Agness Ruben of Kaltag. Franklin and Anna raised 14 children together. In 1950, Franklin was elected chief of Kaltag. During his time as chief, Franklin was able to secure two grants to build houses in Kaltag. He also worked to have medical and mail services brought to Kaltag through Fairbanks rather then routed through Nome. Franklin fought fires in Alaska, Canada and the lower 48 for over 30 years. He also spent 12 seasons working in canneries on the Alaskn coast. In winter, Franklin maintained a trapping cabin forty miles below Kaltag and a summer camp one mile above Kaltag. Some of his favorite pastimes include playing cars and music.

The goal of Raven's Story is to record elders' stories, observations, and experiences relating to wildlife, fish, and subsistence in the Koyukuk and middle Yukon areas of interior Alaska. This Raven's Story was produced by Clinton Brown at public radio station KIYU-AM in Galena, Alaska, with the support of Louden Tribal Council and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.