Eddie Hildebrand

Eddie Hildebrand

Mike Spindler interviewed Eddie Hildebrand in Nulato on April 1, 1998. The interview was edited and produced by Mike Spindler.

EDDIE HILDEBRAND was born in 1917 at Nulato, a village along the lower Yukon River in western Interior Alaska. His parents were Peter and Martha Esmailka. Eddie has lived in Nulato his whole life. He raised four girls and a boy with his first wife, Alice. He is now married to Annie Hildebrand, and they've raised two girls and three boys. In the early years, Eddie supported his family by trapping in the winter and fishing in the summer. For seven years, 1938-1945, he hauled the U.S. mail from Nulato to Koyukuk and Galena by dog team. Starting in 1950, Eddie worked construction jobs in summers to get ahead. He was able to start a small grocery business, which he and Annie operate today. When not working, Eddie says his favorite pastime is to go to the woods, whether it's for hunting, getting firewood, or just looking around.

The goal of Raven's Story is to record elders' stories, observations, and experiences relating to wildlife, fish, and subsistence in the Koyukuk and middle Yukon areas of interior Alaska. This Raven's Story was produced by Mike Spindler at public radio station KIYU-AM in Galena, Alaska, with the support of Louden Tribal Council and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Click on an audio link below to listen to a story.
H99-01-04 Part 1 (CD 1)

1) Biography (1:37)

2) Berries (3:10)

3) Dog team training and care (3:57)

4) Great lead dog (4:15)

5) Dog team mail route (3:50)

6) Spring camp floods (7:23)

7) Flood brings back wildlife (3:08)

8) Ducks and geese (5:00)

9) Moose were scarce (3:45)

10) Salmon fishing (3:35)

11) Pike and whitefish (4:54)

12) Moving the fishwheel (6:04)

H99-01-04 Part 2 (CD 2)

1) Started trapping (short version) (7:10)

2) Started trapping (long version) (9:09)

3) Learned to trap beaver (8:01)

4) Snaring beaver (6:27)

5) Getting out of debt (5:32)

6) Marten trapping (2:51)

7) Wolves (4:25)

8) Boat making (2:49)

9) Game wardens - moose violation (5:29)

10) Game wardens - beaver violation (5:53)

11) Predicting weather (2:55)
Click on an audio link below to listen to a story.
H99-01-04 Part 1 (CD 1)
1) Biography (1:37)
2) Berries (3:10)
3) Dog team training and care (3:57)
4) Great lead dog (4:15)
5) Dog team mail route (3:50)
6) Spring camp floods (7:23)
7) Flood brings back wildlife (3:08)
8) Ducks and geese (5:00)
9) Moose were scarce (3:45)
10) Salmon fishing (3:35)
11) Pike and whitefish (4:54)
12) Moving the fishwheel (6:04)
H99-01-04 Part 2 (CD 2)
1) Started trapping (short version) (7:10)
2) Started trapping (long version) (9:09)
3) Learned to trap beaver (8:01)
4) Snaring beaver (6:27)
5) Getting out of debt (5:32)
6) Marten trapping (2:51)
7) Wolves (4:25)
8) Boat making (2:49)
9) Game wardens - moose violation (5:29)
10) Game wardens - beaver violation (5:53)
11) Predicting weather (2:55)
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