Talk on Kurdistan

The Alaskan Prospectors Society is thrilled to welcome William “Bill” Cox, a longtime Nome resident and true Alaskan adventurer, for a captivating evening of storytelling and firsthand travel tales.

In 2008, Bill picked up the phone and made a cold call to Qubad Talabani—at the time the official representative of the Kurdistan Region in Washington, D.C., and son of Iraq’s then-President Jalal Talabani (Qubad is now the Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government). To Bill’s amazement, Qubad accepted the invitation and flew solo to remote Nome! The two spent days exploring historic gold dredges, hiking across the frozen tundra, and swapping stories of life in two wildly different but equally rugged lands.

Inspired by that unforgettable visit, Bill and his wife traveled to Kurdistan (the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq) in 2010. They drove the country’s dramatic mountain roads, visited shepherds herding flocks in remote highlands, joined a lively family picnic, and even shared lunch in the home of a former military commander who had served under the legendary Kurdish leader Mullah Mustafa Barzani in the 1970s.

Bill will share vivid photos, personal anecdotes, and reflections on a country that felt remarkably safe and overflowing with warm, hospitable people—exactly the kind of cross-cultural exploration our society loves. Expect tales of unexpected friendship, breathtaking landscapes, and the universal spirit of adventure that connects Alaskans with Kurds halfway around the world.

This is classic Alaskan Prospectors Society fare: real people, real journeys, and stories that make you see the world (and Alaska’s own pioneer roots) in a fresh light. Whether you’re a history buff, travel enthusiast, or just love hearing how one bold Alaskan phone call opened doors across continents, you won’t want to miss it!