Traditions . . . Whaling Big Time

Living in Alaska brings with it many varied and sometimes unique opportunities to Life from a slightly different viewpoint.


When I first came to Alaska I worked for a time above the Arctic Circle in a couple of villages “at the top of the world”. One was Point Hope and the other was Point Lay as well as the northernmost ‘town’ of Barrow Alaska. I was working there building power plants and water treatment plants bringing the village into a new age of comfort and convenience.


The villages are mainly subsistence communities where hunting and fishing are the main means for survival. There is no real viable ‘jobs’ like manufacturing or sales in these villages but there is a great community sprit of their past and the traditions the elders and forefathers have passed down over the generations. Elders have regaled the stories of the villages’ whaling past but they have been denied the traditional Natukataq blanket toss for many years until now when the daylong celebration will be held on June 25th.


It is a step back in time for those of us who live in the crazy busy world of the city and the desire to “make a buck”. I read in the newspaper today that the Village of Point Lay has landed their first Bowhead Whale in 72 years causing celebration of a successful hunt in the Chukchi Sea.


Whaling over the years had died out as the population in the village dwindled down but had started again after research brought with it new whaling captains who set out the last couple of years in search of the Bowhead. They landed one . . . a 49 feet, 7 inches long spring bowhead on May 5.


As is tradition the villager’s turned out to help harvest the meat and muktuk and was shared by everyone.


Congratulations and here’s to reviving your past heritage of whaling.


Ice


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