Yup'ik people from the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta historically traveled long distances to fish, hunt, and trap, using tundra networks of waterways, land trails, and portages to access seasonal camps. The three trails and associated features outlined here were described by Joe Demantle, Sr. and John Napoka in Tuluksak, Alaska during the week of September 21-25, 2004.
Joseph "Joe" Demantle, Sr.
Joseph "Joe" Demantle, Sr. was Yup'ik and born in 1929 to Louise and Joe Demantle in Akiak, Alaska. Joe grew up living a traditional subsistence lifestyle based on hunting, trapping and fishing. From his years of living on the land and traveling by dogteam, Joe learned the traditional place names and important navigation and survival skills. He married Lucy (Wassillie) from Akiachak and eventually they settled in Tuluksak, where Joe worked as a maintenance man at the school from 1966 to approximately 1985 in order to support his family. He also served in the Alaska National Guard. Joe raised sled dogs for his own transportation, but also ran a couple of dog sled races around the villages. He used his best seven dogs for the races. Joe Demantle, Sr. passed away in 2010.
Biographical information provided by Freda Alexie of the Yupiit School District.
John Napoka, Jr.
John Napoka, Jr. was Yup'ik and was born in 1940 to Mary and John Napoka, Sr. at Nuugpak near Tuluksak, Alaska. John grew up living a traditional subsistence lifestyle based upon hunting, trapping, and fishing which provided him great knowledge of the land and trails, traditional place names, and navigation and survival skills. He first traveled with dogteams and eventually used a snowmachine to check his trapline and travel in the area. In 1965, John married Marie (Jackson) and they raised a family in Tuluksak. Throughout his life, John held various jobs to earn money to support himself and his family, like working on the fur seal harvest on St. Paul Island, as a heavy equipment operator on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, as a salmon cannery foreman in Naknek, as a firefighting crew boss during the summer season, and as maintenance man at the Tuluksak school. He also served in the Alaska National Guard and went to Fort Ord, Cailfornia for training. In addition to using a dogteam for his own travels, John raised sled dogs for racing and participated in many races around the villages. John passed away in 2011.
Biographical information provided by Freda Alexie of the Yupiit School District.