Project Jukebox

Digital Branch of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Oral History Program

Project Jukebox Survey

Help us redesign the Project Jukebox website by taking a very short survey!

Mary Phillip

Mary Phillip

Mary Phillip was a Yup'ik elder who was born in Aniak, Alaska in 1936 to Susan and Steven Ivan. She grew up living a traditional subsistence lifestyle and learned to sew skins and make boots (mukluks) and clothing from her mother. She attended school until the 8th grade and later became a community health aide and earned a degree in nursing. In the early 1960's, she married John Philip and raised a large family while also working. In 1971, the family lived in Bethel for eight months after the Yukon-Kuskoskim Health Corporation took over the health aide program and Mary was required to take extra training. She retired in 2001, after 32 years as a health aide, but returned when they asked her to fill in when they were short of staff. Eventually, she retired for a second time with little fanfare. Mary passed away in 2011.
Date of Birth:
Apr 1, 1936
Date of Death:
Oct 17, 2011
Mary Phillip appears in the following new Jukebox projects:
Interview Title Abstract Archive #: Oral History Project Date of Interview
Annie Kawagley, Mary Phillip, and Bertha Beaver

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.

 2004-07-20 Akiak Nov 18, 2004
John and Mary Phillip, Part 1

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.

 2004-07-22_PT.1 Akiak Nov 18, 2004
John and Mary Phillip, Part 2

This is the continuation of an interview with John and Mary Phillip 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 second part of a two part interview, John and Mary talk about subsistence fishing and hunting activities, seasonal camps for fishing and muskrat hunting, methods of travel, and processing of salmon.

 2004-07-22_PT.2 Akiak Nov 18, 2004

As a Person Present at Interview

Interview Title Archive #: Oral History Project Abstract People Present
Bertha Beaver 2004-07-18 Akiak

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.

 Wassillie Evan, John Phillip, Mary Phillip

As Translator

Interview Title Archive #: Oral History Project Abstract Translator
Annie Kawagley, Mary Phillip, and Bertha Beaver 2004-07-20 Akiak

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.

 Mary Phillip