On June 8, 2025, we celebrated the 100th birthday of Herman “Buddy” Carl Bendixen—a lifelong fisherman, Alaska Territorial Guard veteran, and devoted family man whose life reflects the deep and enduring ties between Unangax̂ people and our lands, waters, and ways of life.
Born in 1925 on Cherni Island, Buddy came of age during a time of war and change. At 16, after Japanese bombs fell on Dutch Harbor, he stepped forward to defend his home, serving from 1942 to 1944 in the Alaska Territorial Guard. Though recognition as a U.S. veteran wouldn’t come until decades later, Buddy never wavered in his commitment to protecting the place and people he loved.
He and his beloved late wife Xenia “Rocky” Kuzakin—his partner for over 75 years—made their home in King Cove, raising nine children and helping shape a family that now spans five generations. In 2016, Buddy and Rocky were named Aleut Shareholders of the Year for their lifetime of service, care, and community leadership.
A true steward of the land, Buddy spent his days on the beaches and in the oceans, in the mountains, and around the banya. His love for King Cove runs deep. As he wrote in a 2008 op-ed supporting the Izembek road:
“This refuge that everyone is talking about is our backyard… Our survival and that of every species for whom environmentalists claim such deep concern, is bound together. For us, conservation is not a concept. It is our life.”
Though Buddy no longer fishes, you can still find him out for a drive, watching the caribou graze. He whistles many tunes. He tells many stories. He reminds us what it means to belong.