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Bruce "Nukapiqqaq" Nukapigak

Bruce Nukapigak

Bruce Nukapigak was born in 1900 at the head of Kuuguq ravine southeast of Barrow, Alaska. He grew up at Ualiqpaa on the coast south of Barrow and in Barrow, living a traditional subsistence lifestyle of whaling, hunting, fishing, trapping and traveling by dog team. As a whaler and seal hunter, he learned to understand the sea ice and how to travel and hunt safely on it. After he was married, he moved to Barter Island (Kaktovik), and learned about the local ice conditions as far west as Cross Island from his father-in-law (Uqumailaq’s father). Also, starting in 1932, he lived at Point McIntyre and Beechey Point for eighteen years where he again learned about the sea ice in the area where he went hunting. Bruce Nukapigak was known as an expert whaler and hunter, and had vast knowledge of the whole north coast having lived in such a variety of places. Bruce Nukapigak died on April 1, 1979.
Date of Birth:
Apr 10, 1900
Date of Death:
Apr 1, 1979
Bruce "Nukapiqqaq" Nukapigak appears in the following new Jukebox projects:
Interview Title Abstract Archive #: Oral History Project Date of Interview
Bruce Nukapigak, Translation 1

Bruce Nukapigak was interviewed on July 12, 1978 by Kenneth Toovak in Barrow, Alaska for a project related to potential oil development of the Alaskan continental shelf. The original interview was in Inupiaq. The interview was first translated in 1979 by Molly Pederson and appears in the Historical References to Ice Conditions Along the Beaufort Sea Coast of Alaska (Scientific Report, Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 1979, p. A-II-30). The interview was translated a second time in January 2014 by Muriel Hopson and appears below synced with the Inupiaq audio. In this project, it is known as Bruce Nukapigak, Translation 1. The interview was translated a third time in August 2014 by Ronald H. Brower, Sr. and appears in this project as Bruce Nukapigak, Translation 2.

In this interview, Bruce talks about sea ice conditions on the northern Beaufort Sea coast, in particular around Barter Island, Cross Island, Beechey Point and the Jago River. He discusses how the wind influences the ice and how and where pressure ridges are formed.

 97-64-03 Sea Ice in Northern Alaska Jul 12, 1978
Bruce Nukapigak, Translation 2

Bruce Nukapigak was interviewed on July 12, 1978 by Kenneth Toovak in Barrow, Alaska for a project related to potential oil development of the Alaskan continental shelf. The original interview was in Inupiaq. The interview was first translated in 1979 by Molly Pederson and appears in the Historical References to Ice Conditions Along the Beaufort Sea Coast of Alaska (Scientific Report, Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 1979, p. A-II-30). The interview was translated a second time in January 2014 by Muriel Hopson and appears in this project as Bruce Nukapigak, Translation 1. The interview was translated a third time in August 2014 by Ronald H. Brower, Sr. and appears below synced with the Inupiaq audio. In this project, it is known as Bruce Nukapigak, Translation 2.

In this interview, Bruce talks about sea ice conditions on the northern Beaufort Sea coast, in particular around Barter Island, Cross Island, Beechey Point and the Jago River. He discusses how the wind influences the ice and how and where pressure ridges are formed.

 

 97-64-03 Sea Ice in Northern Alaska Jul 12, 1978