Louann Rank

Bertha Beaver was interviewed on November 16, 2004 along with Wassillie Evan and John and Mary Phillip by Shawna Williams, Karen Brewster and Louann Rank along with 7th grade students Holly Demantle, Diedre Williams, Gabriel Nicolai and Milton Jones while looking at historic photographs at the Akiak School Library in Akiak, Alaska. In this excerpt of the longer recording, Bertha talks about what it was like to be in an arranged marriage and some of the hardships of raising such a large family in the early days when there was little money. Bertha emphasizes the importance for young people to remember their traditional values, activities, and foods.

John and Mary Phillip were interviewed on November 18, 2004 by William Schneider, Karen Brewster, Louann Rank, and Shawna Williams along with 7th grade students Andy Japhet and Carrie Lake at the Akiak School Library in Akiak, Alaska. In this first part of a two part interview, John Phillip talks about his childhood, living a subsistence lifestyle, and having to travel to find jobs so he could support his family. Mary Phillip talks about her experience as a community health aide, the training and education she received, and relocating to Bethel for work. John and Mary also talk about their family histories, raising their children, and changes they have seen in Akiak.

Wassillie Evan and John Phillip are interviewed on November 19, 2004 by William Schneider, Karen Brewster, Louann Rank, and Shawna Williams along with 7th grade students Leanne Jackson and Nels Jasper at the Akiak School Library in Akiak, Alaska. In this first part of a two part interview, Wassillie and John talk about subsistence activities, the history of Akiak, and refer to a map to talk about traditionally used places, travel routes and trails, and Yup'ik place names. John and Wassille have hunted and trapped together, and they talk about Qantar and the original trail, and mention two sites in particular: Anayaruaq - "a place up by the mountains that you are supposed to avoid;" and a small lake down by the Kuskokwim River that "if you drink the water from it you will disappear." Wassillie also tells a story in Yup'ik about starvation times and talks about traditional medicine and healing practices. Wassillie is most comfortable speaking Yup'ik, so he speaks in Yup'ik throughout much of the interview and John translates his comments into English.

Annie Kawagley, Mary Phillip and Bertha Beaver are interviewed on November 18, 2004 by William Schneider, Karen Brewster, Louann Rank, and Shawna Williams along with 7th grade students Minnie Kashatok and Lott Egoak at the Akiak School Library in Akiak, Alaska. In this interview, Annie, Mary and Bertha talk about women's roles in Yup'ik life, the subsistence lifestyle at seasonal camps and preparing fish and other traditional foods, raising a family, following traditional values, and working jobs outside of the home. Specifically, Annie discusses her work at the orphanage in Kwethluk, Alaska and as a health aide in Akiak; Mary shares some of her health aide experiences, delivering babies, and the use of traditional medicine; and Bertha (who joined the interview late) talks about coming to Akiak, marriage, the hardships of raising a large family during times of food shortage and starvation, and traditional rules and knowledge. Annie Kawagley was most comfortable speaking Yup'ik, so she speaks in Yup'ik throughout most of the interview and Mary Phillip translates her comments into English.

This is the continuation of an interview with Tom Nurauq Kasayulie on March 28, 2006 by Sophie Kasayulie, Frank Chingliak, Elena Chingliak, Karen Brewster, Louann Rank, and Marie Mitchell in Akiachak, Alaska. In this second part of a two part interview, Tom speaks in Yup'ik and English about reindeer herding, living a subsistence lifestyle based upon hunting, fishing and trapping, losing his first wife in an accident, and his work experiences including commercial fishing.

Elsie Iqsak (Alexie) Wassilie was interviewed on on March 30, 2006 by Sophie Kasayulie, Louann Rank, Karen Brewster, Frank Chingliak, and Elena Chingliak at Elsie's home in Akiachak, Alaska. In this interview, Elsie speaks in Yup'ik and English about Akiachak in the 1930's, various people's sod houses, and Marie Forrest's trading post and bunkhouse while drawing a map of the layout of the old village. She also talks about changes in the river channel and the location of the old site of Qikertarmiut, moving to Akiachak, early days of mail delivery, traveling by dog team, and spring beaver hunting. View a map of the village of Akiachak, circa 1935, with buildings identified by Elsie Wassillie.

Elizabeth Naparyaq (Lomack) Peter was interviewed on October 12, 2005 by Louann Rank, Mary Frederick, Frank Chingliak, Sophie Kasayulie and Marla Statscewich at Elizabeth's home in Akiachak, Alaska. In this interview, Elizabeth speaks in Yup'ik about learning Yup'ik values, traveling to seasonal camps, respecting the land and the animals, and stories told in the qasgiq. Sophie Kasayulie translates.

View the written English translation of the traditional story about cannibalism that Elizabeth tells which she learned from Old Man Japhet of Tuluksak (Section 11).

Nellie Ilegvak (Fritz) Moses was interviewed on October 12, 2005 by Louann Rank, Marla Statscewich, Sophie Kasayulie, Frank Chingliak and Mary Frederick at Nellie's home (sections 1 - 6) and on October 13, 2005 in the Yupiit School District "Blue Building" in Akiachak, Alaska (sections 7 - 11). In this interview, Nellie speaks in Yup'ik and English about her childhood memories of fish camp and other seasonal subsistence camps, camp locations and changes in the river channel, drying and smoking salmon, berrypicking, and traditional and medicinal use of plants. She also shares her memories of the qasgiq, dancing and potlaches in Akiachak, the use of story knives for storytelling, and coming across old burials and graves out on the tundra. View a map of family fish camp sites at Akiachak, circa 1939, as identified by Nellie Moses.

Tom Kiarcimalria Wassilie was interviewed on October 13, 2005 by Louann Rank, Mary Frederick, Frank Chingliak, Sophie Kasayulie and Marla Statscewich at the Yupiit School District's "Blue Building" in Akiachak, Alaska. In this interview, Tom talks about living a traditonal seasonally-based subsistence lifestyle based on hunting, fishing and trapping, and learning traditional skills and values from his grandparents at their camps on the Elaayiq River. He shares experiences with fishing for blackfish and clams, and hunting muskrat and geese. Tom also talks about traveling by dog team, proper care and breeding of dogs, and even racing his dog teams. In addition to his own experiences, Tom also shares some traditional stories.

Joseph Arrssauyaq Slats was interviewed on October 12, 2005 by Louann Rank and Marla Statscewich at the Yupiit School District Office in Akiachak, Alaska. In this interview, Joe talks about about his experience as a teacher and education administrator in Alaska, and his role as Yupiit School District Superintendent. He also talks about the negative impact of missionary schooling and boarding schools, the importance of having local control over education, curriculum, and the teaching of Yup'ik culture, language, and values, the benefits of vocational training, and the challenges of teacher recruitment.

Joseph "Joe" Demantle, Sr. was interviewed on September 24, 2004 by William Schneider, Freda Alexie, and Louann Rank in Tuluksak, Alaska. Marla Statscewich and Richard Phillip were also present during the interview. In this interview, Joe talks about growing up, learning to hunt and use a dog team, and traveling in the area for trapping and hunting and being careful of dangerous places. He also talks about traditional place names and trails and marks them on a map. Joe also shares his experiences of being out on the trapline, getting stuck when traveling and having to walk a long way, and having his dog team fall through the ice.

John Napoka, Jr., along with Richard Phillip, was interviewed on September 23, 2004 by Bill Schneider, Louann Rank, and Freda Alexie in Tuluksak, Alaska. Marla Statscewich was also present during the interview. In this interview, John talks about trapping, traveling on trails in the area, and using a dogteam versus a snowmachine. He also talks about fishing and hunting, the importance of being safe when traveling, and marks trails on a map. Richard Phillip shares some of his own trail use and experiences traveling around the area, including one time when he got lost, and marks trails on the map with John.

Lydia Fly was interviewed on April 13, 2005 by William Schneider, Louann Rank and Marla Statscewich at the school in Tuluksak, Alaska. Lydia speaks in both English and Yup'ik. There was no Yup'ik translator available during the interview, but Lydia was encouraged to tell her story in Yup'ik anyway. Lydia's laughter was infectious, so there was lots of giggling in this interview. Sophie Kasayulie helped translate a few sections of this interview the following day. In this interview, Lydia talks about growing up near Uuravik, how the family traveled to seasonal camps for hunting, fishing and trapping, living near Macavik with her husband in a mud house, running the trapline with him, and types of Native foods she likes.

Nick Alexie, Sr. was interviewed on April 13, 2005 by William Schneider and Louann Rank in Tuluksak, Alaska. Marla Statscewich and Richard Philip, Nick's grandson, were also present during the interview. When Nick spoke in Yup'ik, it was translated into English by Frank Chingliak and Sophie Kasayulie of the Yupiit Elitnaurutait Program of the Yupiit School District. In this interview, Nick talks about spring and fall camp, what it was like in camp when he was a child, and how they traveled on the land. He also talks about fishing and the kinds of fish found around Tuluksak. A few days after this interview, Nick was going to spring camp, so we were lucky to catch him before he left town. Richard was looking forward to meeting his grandfather at camp for a few days.