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Shirley Nielsen

Shirley Nielsen

Shirley Nielsen was born in Iliamna, Alaska and has also lived in Levelock and Kokhanok, Alaska. Her father died in 1945, leaving her mother to care for fourteen children, Shirley being the oldest. The family traveled around the region by dog team to go hunting, trapping and fishing to support themselves. She married John Nielsen in the late 1950's and they lived in various communities in the area, until permanently settling in Kokhanok in 1964. Shirley starting working as the health aide in Kokhanok in 1966 when it was just a volunteer position and continued providing health care to the community into the late 1990s.
Shirley Nielsen appears in the following new Jukebox projects:
Interview Title Abstract Archive #: Oral History Project Date of Interview
Shirley Nielsen, Part 1

Shirley Nielsen was interviewed on August 8, 1997 by Judith Morris at the village health clinic in Kokhanok, Alaska. In this first part of a two part interview, Shirley talks about growing up in various communities in the region and relying on a seasonal round of subsistence activities, such as fishing, hunting, trapping, and berry picking, for their livelihood. She also talks about early health care in the area and how she became a health aide. Shirley discusses how people used the old site at Amakdedori, and the importance of teaching children tradtional skills. Finally, she discusses changes she has seen in the environment affecting subsistence and changes in the community and regional lifestyle.

 98-21-05 Katmai National Park Aug 8, 1997
Shirley Nielsen, Part 2

This is the continuation of an interview with Shirley Nielsen on August 10, 1997 by Judith Morris at Shirley's home in Kokhanok, Alaska. In this second part of a two part interview, Shirley continues to talk about places she has lived in the Lake Iliamna area, what she did there, and why she continued to move from place to place. As part of this discussion, Shirley talks about the seasonal round of subsistence activities that take place in the area.

 98-21-09 Katmai National Park Aug 10, 1997