Core Values & Our Living Invitation
Where It All Began—A Life Forged in the North
As an Original Sealaska shareholder, a Kaigani Haida descendant, raised in Wrangell and now living in Fairbanks, my roots run deep into the muskeg, the old-growth timber, and the highways that tie this land together.
I grew up running the Stikine River—collecting garnets and selling them to passing tourists in Wrangell as a kid, learning the tides and stories of Tlingit and Haida elders, and later spending seasons commercial trolling and gillnetting in Alaska’s cold waters. Whether you fished for kings, ran the gillnets, worked a seine, or just dreamed of the ocean, you have a home here. To every commercial and recreational boater, every river rat, every angler, and anyone who’s ever felt alive under the open sky: Midnight Sun Tees is for you, too.
Before the road, before the brand, before the army, I was a child of the islands and the tide, making a few bucks for my family by doing what I loved—meeting strangers, sharing stories, and honoring the land and water.
On Service, Roads, and Respect
Before logging nearly three million miles behind the wheel, I served in the U.S. Army during peacetime as a 67N Utility Helicopter Repairer on the UH-1H Huey—learning discipline, humility, and the importance of looking out for others, whether in the hangar, the field, or far from home.
Decades behind the wheel—from the city heat to the frozen Haul Road—I learned that every driver who respects the land and the road is king. True wealth is measured in moments of respect and wonder, not dollars. MST is here to honor everyone who chooses integrity over comfort, and story over slogan.
Yahguudang, Cold Forged, and a True North
Yahguudang—the Haida ethic of deep respect—is the foundation of everything I do. I believe in cleaning up after yourself, holding the door, giving more than you take, and standing up for those who can’t stand for themselves.
Cold Forged isn’t about being tough for show. It’s about coming through hardship with your character intact and knowing that how you carry yourself is everything.
“Respect all things. Leave no one behind. Wear the land, live the legacy.”
For the Landless, For Justice
I am not just an entrepreneur. I am part of a generation of Alaska Natives who were left without land or settlement in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. The fight for recognition and justice continues to this day.
If you care about fairness, if you care about what’s right, learn about the Landless cause. Stand with us. Share our story. Support the future.
Boaters, Anglers, and River People—You Belong Here
To the commercial trollers, gillnetters, seiners, charter captains, sportfishers, and every soul who’s cast a line or thrown a net—this is your invitation. I know what it is to ride the tide, to run the Stikine, to chase the salmon, and to work the water for a living or for joy. MST celebrates your stories, your work, and your love for the life aquatic.
Cold Forged, Trail Tested – Our ATV Life (and a YouTube Rookie Invite)
Riding the backcountry on an ATV is one of the purest ways I’ve found to feel alive and at home in Alaska. Like many, I don’t get out as much as I’d like—but every ride is a story, every trail a lesson in respect for nature, machine, and the company you keep.
We may be rookies at filming, but our rides—and our stories—are real. I started a YouTube channel to share some of these moments: raw, unpolished, but always honest and made to make you smile. Whether you’re a seasoned rider or just thinking about taking your first trip, you’re invited to ride along with us. And if you’re laughing at my rookie camera work, that’s all part of the adventure!
Welcome to Every Visitor, Traveler, and Alaska Dreamer
Whether you are visiting for the first time or Alaska is your lifelong home, your respect and curiosity are what keep this land wild and this community vibrant. To every tourist, every family, every solo wanderer who crossed the miles to be here—you are welcome, your story is valued, and I hope you’ll carry a piece of Alaska’s spirit with you wherever you go.
Introducing FireSeasonTees.com – A Sister Project
MST was born from the fireline as much as from the open road. Our sister site Fire Season Tees will soon offer custom shirts for wildland firefighters and their support teams—unique, position-based, and incident-specific. If you serve or support wildland fire, you’ll soon find something built just for you.
The Family That Forged This Path
No story like this happens alone. I owe everything to the people who shaped me, stood by me, and made the journey worthwhile—especially my wife Christine, my partner in all things since 1992, who’s faced every storm and triumph by my side. My children—Bonny, Carli, and Summit—and my grandchildren—Kiya, Hayden, Rialee, Amelia, and Brenin William—are the light in my life and the living proof that love, grit, and courage run deep in our family.
Summit, my son, is Cold Forged in his own right. His work ethic, adventurous spirit, and loyalty push me to be a better man every day. My stepdaughters are resilient, wise, and loving mothers, and their children remind me of the magic in the world.
I am here because of my father, Lefty Johnson—a hero to many and the one who taught me the value of the open road—and my mother Jan, who inspired me to be proud of my Haida lineage and gave unconditional love through every turn, good or bad. Our family is tightly knit and stronger for what we’ve faced together, always trying to make the world a little better than we found it.
To all of them: you are my “why,” and you are forever a part of Midnight Sun Tees.
Honoring Our Artists: Thank You, Ron Gile
This page, and the feeling you get looking at it, would not exist without the work of my high school classmate, friend, and fellow traveler—Ron Gile. His photography captures the wild light and living heart of Alaska: the aurora, the silence, the spirit of places that shape all who visit. Please explore his work, support his vision, and tell him MST sent you. You won’t regret it.
This is Your Invitation
If you have a story to share, a cause to champion, or just want to wear something that means more, you are welcome at MST.
Our wall is open. Our circle is not closed. Alaska is for everyone with a warrior’s heart and a humble hand.