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Deborah Mekiana

Debbie Mekiana is from Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska and is the niece of well-known Nunamiut elder, Justus Mekiana. At the time of her 1992 interview, Debbie was a senior in high school. She attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), currently is the director of Rural Student Services at UAF, and is married to John Toopetlook.

Deborah Mekiana appears in the following new Jukebox projects:

Gates of the Arctic National Park

Interview Title	Abstract	Archive #: Oral History	Project	Date of Interview
Debbie Mekiana	Debbie Mekiana was interviewed on December 16, 1992 by Bill Schneider at the school in Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska, where she was a senior in high school. She sat in the previous day during the interview with her uncle, Justus Mekiana. At the time of this interview, Debbie was the Museum Assistant at the Simon Paneak Memorial Museum and planned to attend the University of Alaska Fairbanks in the fall of 1993. Debbie reflects on her life at Anaktuvuk Pass and discusses some of the choices she is making in an effort to combine Western education with Inupiaq culture and values.	93-15-56	Gates of the Arctic National Park	Dec 16, 1992

As a Person Present at Interview

Interview Title	Archive #: Oral History	Project	Abstract	People Present
Riley Morry	93-15-52	Gates of the Arctic National Park	Riley Morry was interviewed on December 15, 1992 by Bill Schneider at the Simon Paneak Memorial Museum in Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska--the facility being named after his grandfather. Riley was asked to do this interview because he has been involved for over twenty years in Anaktuvuk Pass land issues. The interview was centered on that activity and he mentions some of the issues he worked on. The timing of this interview was particularly appropriate since it had just been announced that the National Park Service proposed to swap some lands and declassify wilderness to accommodate the Anaktuvuk Pass villagers' use of All Terrain Vehicles on the tundra. Riley speaks to that issue and explains why people use all-terrain vehicles. The interview was arranged by Grant Spearman, Curator of the Museum. Grant and student worker Debbie Mekiana were present during the interview.	Debbie Mekiana, Grant Spearman
Justus Mekiana, Part 1	93-15-61	Gates of the Arctic National Park	This interview with Justus Mekiana was conducted on December 15, 1992 by Bill Schneider at the Simon Paneak Memorial Museum in Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska. Grant Spearman, the curator of the museum arranged the interview and was present along with Justus' niece, Debbie Mekiana. We asked Justus to do the interview because he is so knowledgeable about Nunamiut history and because he was present when the Nunamiut permanently settled in Anaktuvuk Pass in 1949.	Grant Spearman, Debbie Mekiana
Justus Mekiana, Part 2	93-15-62	Gates of the Arctic National Park	This is a continuation of an interview with Justus Mekiana on December 15, 1992 with Bill Schneider at the Simon Paneak Memorial Museum in Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska. This is a continuation of tape number Oral History 93-15-61. Grant Spearman, the curator of the museum arranged the interview and was present along with Justus' niece, Debbie Mekiana. In this part of the interview, Justus talks about the impact the National Park Service and establishment of Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve has had on the Nunamiut people of Anaktuvuk Pass.	Grant Spearman, Debbie Mekiana