His was one of the first faces I learned to associate with Athabascan music, due to his picture being on the front cover of "The Crooked Stovepipe" by Craig Mishler.

When I went to visit Bill Stevens, he pointed to Trimble's picture on his wall of fame several times. It is obvious that he is well-revered in the Gwich'in community.

Trimble is a resident of Arctic Village, Alaska, where he is the Episcopal Priest. Its a town which I'm told is very similar to Old Crow. "We are the same," said Bill Stevens.

From what I've read on the Internet, it appears that Trimble is on a mission similar to mine -- to bring music education and fiddles to the Gwich'in in order to preserve the fiddle tradition.

The following is from his CD jacket:

The Trimble Gilbert Story:

"Trimble and his sons are well known for their musical talents and have traveled to many places such as Canada, Washington State, Washington DC and throughout Alaska playing their music.

Trimble is very well known and respected as an elder and musician. Trimble and his sons live in Arctic Village which is located on a reseration that sits on the edge of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.

They've lived in Arctic Village all their lives where Trimble taught his sons to live a traditional and subsistence lifestyle.

Trimble also taught his sons to play traditional music with the fiddle and guitar. This music is used for traditional dancing during holidays and special events throughout the year and for entertaining guests. His sons have also extended their musical skills to play modern rock music.

All three of his sons are married and have children of their own. They in turn have taught their children to live the same traditional and subsistence lifestyle and now teach their children to play the same instruments and music.

Tribmle has immense respect for his parents James and Maggie Gilbert who used to love traditional music and dancing. He believes their love for music and dancing is why he hmself took such an interest. Trimble would like to dedicate this first album to his late parents Maggie and James Gilbert."

The following was printed in a newsletter from Chris B.'s Music

VIOLINS AT THE NORTH POLE
One of our customers took some of our violins to the Arctic Circle, interesting what a small world this really is: Trimble Gilbert came to the American Festival of Fiddletunes. He is from north of the Arctic circle, lives in a town without running water with about 200 inhabitants, called Arctic Village. They still live off the land! He is an Athabascan Indian(Gwich'in). At fiddletunes,He represented a 150 year old tradition of fiddlemusic that apparently came over with the french canadian trappers. But the Gwich'in indians took the music and changed it. It's got an incredible drum-like beat all through the music. And they dance their own dances to the music. They play fiddle and guitar. There was an article about this kind of music in the last issue of fiddler . Well, anyway, while he was here, he mentioned he was trying to get music into the schools, the little kids were interested in learning his music, but the school could not afford to buy them. I am in a band, and have always considered my band earnings (pretty meager) as mad money because I also have a full time job. So I told Trimble I'd use some of my band money to get instruments for his school (Yukon Flats School) I bought a half sized fiddle from Chris B's music, and a 3/4 sized fiddle from a local shop. Then people brought me about 5 fullsized fiddles, and from them I traded and got more 3/4 sized and 1/2 sized fiddles. I've only shipped 2 instruments to Arctic village so far, there are 3 that need repairs. A local luthier (Barry Schultz) has donated his labor FREE to repair these instruments! So when these are all fixed, I have a great big box to send to arctic village. People (and two music stores) have donated bows, cases, strings, shoulder rests, and of course, instruments.
All in all, this is what I have:
2 1/2 sized,
4 3/4 sized,
2 full sized.
all with bows and cases and maybe I am 1 rosin short. We think this is enough (Trimble thought so) the only place I am deficient is I don't have any extra sets of strings for the smaller sized instruments.

So now you know the REST of the story
Mimi

Wonderful photo and tribute to Reverand Gilbert by Bert Gildart

More about Arctic Village and Gilbert

		"Neets'aii Gwich'in Fiddlers" Trimble and Gregory Gilbert, 2001 Charlie's Square Dance | .mp3
		Trimble's picture on the front cover of The Crooked Stovepipe

Contact:
Trimble Gilbert
P.O. Box 22006
Arctic Village, AK 99722
(907) 587-5320