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Nels Hedlund

Nels Hedlund was a Yup'ik elder originally from the Bethel region of Alaska who grew up living a subsistence lifestyle and made his living off the land by trapping, hunting, and fishing. When he married Rose Hedlund, a Dena'ina Athabascan, he moved to the Iliamna region and they lived in Chekok, Pedro Bay, and Iliamna. Together, they raised a family by continuing to rely up their Native traditions. As a trapper, Nels had a detailed knowledge of the land and travel routes, and was an expert in Dena'ina and Yup'ik place names and history. When Nels was sixteen, he delivered mail between Bethel and Aniak by dogteam, and as a trapper became an excellent musher who developed a quality line of sled dogs specialized for the trapline and subsistence lifestyle. Nels and Rose bred and sold these dogs, now known as "The Hedlund Husky," many of whom went on to successful racing careers, and Nels also built dogsleds. Nels Hedlund passed away in 1991.

Date of Birth:

Sep 1, 1913

Date of Death:

Oct 23, 1991

Nels Hedlund appears in the following new Jukebox projects:

Lake Clark National Park

Interview Title	Abstract	Archive #: Oral History	Project	Date of Interview
Nels and Rose Hedlund, Part 1	Nels and Rose Hedlund talk with Priscilla Russell and Andrew Balluta on July 27,1985 in Chekok, Alaska. In this first part of a two part interview, the Hedlunds locate places on a map, and talk about their uses, their Dena'ina names, and what these names mean. They discuss the history of trade and warfare between the Dena'ina and the Yup'ik in the region, and Nels describes the route traveled by Yup'ik people migrating into the Iliamna area from the Kuskokwim River. They also discuss their own subsistence and trapping activities.	98-27-11_PT.1	Lake Clark National Park	Jul 27, 1985
Nels and Rose Hedlund, Part 2	This is the continuation of an interview with Rose and Nels Hedlund on July 27, 1985 by Priscilla Russell and Andrew Balluta in Chekok, Alaska. In this second part of a two part interview, Rose talks about basket making, sewing, and tells a story about Ptarmigan Women and Spruce Hen Women to show how important it is for a woman to be a good seamstress. She also discusses camping, trapping and Dena'ina place names. Nels periodically chimes in from the background with additional place name information.	98-27-11_PT.2	Lake Clark National Park	Jul 27, 1985