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Grant Spearman

Born in Washington in 1951, Grant came to Alaska in the 1970s as an archeologist. He did archeology clearance work during construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, which introduced him to the Brooks Range and life in the north. He lived in Anaktuvuk Pass for over thirty years, living one of the community's last remaining sod houses, and was Curator of the Simon Paneak Memorial Museum from the facility's founding until his retirement around 2009. Grant has done extensive research and writing about the history and culture of the Nunamiut, including historic site documentation on the Killik River, working with elders Arctic John Etalook, Elijah Kakinya, Justus Mekiana, and Zacharias Hugo to document the traditional ways of the Ulumiut and the Nunamiut, and has produced educational and exhibit material.

Grant Spearman appears in the following new Jukebox projects:

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