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Ernest Kignak, Interview 2, Part 1
Ernest Kignak

Ernest Kignak (Qigñaq) was interviewed on January 20, 1983 by Bill Schneider and Wendy Arundale at his home in Barrow, Alaska (now known as Utqiaġvik) to review what he said in a previous interview on March 10, 1982 and how it was written up in the Chipp-Ikpikpuk and Meade Rivers Oral History Project final report. Leona Okakok was the Iñupiaq language translator during the interview. In this first part of a two part interview, Ernest talks about hunting, fishing and traveling in the Chipp-Ikpikpak area when he was young, his family settling in Barrow, fish and caribou behavior, and the importance of observation when hunting and learning the land. He also reviews his biographical section in the report. (IHLC Tape #00066)

Digital Asset Information

Archive #: Oral History 87-102-09

Project: Chipp-Ikpikpuk and Meade Rivers Oral History Project
Date of Interview: Jan 20, 1983
Narrator(s): Ernest Kignak
Interviewer(s): Bill Schneider, Wendy Arundale
Transcriber: Katherine Itta Ahgeak People Present: Leona Okakok
Location of Interview:
Funding Partners:
North Slope Borough, Iñupiat History, Language and Culture Commission
Alternate Transcripts
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Sections

1) Reviewing Ernest's biographical statement from the Chipp-Ikpikpuk report.

2) Ernest's genealogical information.

3) Where Ernest traveled as a young boy.

4) Why his family settled in Barrow.

5) Fish.

6) Caribou.

7) How Ernest learned iglutiŋauik.

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Transcript

Section 1: Kignak, Ernest\ travel - river\ Nunamiut\ Colville drainage\ Ikpikpak River\ travel - route\ Atuŋuraq\ portage\ Kuukpik\ hunting - caribou\ hunting - summertime|

Section 2: Kignak, Ernest\ Aaŋa, Jacob\ Kisautak\ Nunamiut\ Anaktuvuk\ mother - Indian\ adoption\ mother - biological\ mother - adoptive\ Adams, Molly\ Tatpaana\ Palaŋana\ abandonment\ famine\ birthdate - 4-8-1903\ birthplace|

Section 3: Kignak, Ernest\ becoming aware\ Barrow\ residence - permanent\ hunting - on Ikpikpak River\ travel - parents\ travel - knowledge\ travel - inland\ school\ calendar|

Section 4: parents\ inland\ resources - seal oil\ resources - blubber\ trade\ travel - inland\ store\ caribou\ sheep\ animal populations - seasonal migration|

Section 5: fish - river\ fish - ocean\ fish - seasonal migration\ fish - spawning|

Section 6: caribou\ caribou - migrations\ caribou - knowledge of\ herds\ iglutiŋik\ resources - way of knowing|

Section 7: Kignak, Ernest\ education - self \ observation - caribou\ observation - three years\ Isuliumaniq|