Communications From Near and Far.

Page 1 (year 2002). To Page 2 (2003)

The following messages originated as emails sent to Nunivak.org, some have been edited slightly for spelling, length and content. Webmaster comments are italicized and included in brackets. I will not post email addresses unless specifically instructed to do so. If you wish to contact any of the message writers please send a message to info@nunivak.org

From: Clyde Smith & Kim Weston-Smith, December 5, 2002

Hi!
Clyde Smith & Kim Weston-Smith
Bethel, Alaska 99559

From: Edward Purinton, December 4, 2002

I am interested in a wooden Nunivak style mask showing a loon or seagull. Perhaps if you could give me the contact information of one mask carver who does a good job carving but perhaps is not a master carver - I could have him create one for me. I bid on a Nunivak mask on ebay that was attributed to Nick Shavings. I won the bid but didn't met the reserve price and didn't get to purchase the mask. So any assistance you can give I would appreciate it. I'm an art and design teacher and I use my mask collection in my classes to give my students a sense of what goes into the creation of tribal art.

From: "Leonard John", November 4, 2002
Subject: Web Page

"Cama-i"
This is Clayton. Just thought I'd tell you hello. I've printed many of the pages for my mom so she can see the wonderful work you are doing. I think it was cool to see mom in grade school. I've always wondered what she looked like and it seems that she didn't change that much.
Thanks for the webpage. I am very grateful! Looking forward to the Dictionary and the Genealogy Book.
Later, Clay

From: "Rose David", October 22, 2002
Subject: Excellent Website

Just thought I commend you on your excellent website. It's getting better and better every time I view it.

I like the Estle photos linked to the website. Those are classic! It would be a good idea to put my grandfather Andrew Noratuk and his contributions. How the people are dependent on the natural resources (fishing, hunting, etc.) could be good, too. You could do lots of things with it. Keep up the good work!

Rose

From: "Timothy Miller", September 28, 2002
Subject: 1930 Census

It has been a few years since I came to Nunivak. I was there for the ECCAK Conference when Howard Sloowko was still pastor. I always thought I would come back to the Island but I never did. Fortunately I get to see Islanders when they pass through Bethel.
For my research about Hooper Bay I purchased the 1930 census of the entire western coast of Alaska. This census includes Mekoryuk. This information is on microfilm. I don't know if Mekoryuk has a microfilm reader--there are only three in all of Bethel.
If someone from Nunivak wants to do some research they are welcome to stop by my house and use my microfilm reader.
Timothy Miller
gussack@alaska.com
543-3509

From: Mary Krakora, September 24, 2002
Subject: Andrew Noatak

Hi, My name is Mary Krakora and I lived in Bethel from 81-87, initially arriving as a Jesuit Volunteer for the Bethel Group Home. I was going through my trunk today and came across a mask I'd gotten from Andrew Noatak from Mekoryak. I wondered if he was still living and how he was doing, or if there was an address for him available. It is a beautiful mask, and now that the boys are teens it is safe to display. (When they were little they were always taking it off the wall and running off with it). I noted that there is a display at the San Francisco airport, and I intend to make a point of seeing it. I live in Reno, about four hours away. Is any of Andrew Noatak's work on display there? Thank you for a great website. It still amazes me that I can have these connections.
Sincerely, Mary Krakora

From: brain teaser, September 17, 2002
Subject: hey

kewl!!! i liked the picture of the sea birds and the word of the day thing.. keep it up and more people will check it out.. you sure got my daily attention..

Quiran

From: Elwin Estle, September 12, 2002
Subject: The Nunivak Project

My parents, Kay and Paul Estle, were schoolteachers on
Nunivak back in the late 1950's. I am in the process
of putting up a number of photographs from their
collection on the web. The site is still very much
under construction. I would say that there are at
present 50 or so pictures up right now. I have just
scanned and thumbnailed another 150 and am in the
process of making web pages for them. The URL of the
site is: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~nunavakproject/
if you would like to take a look. I will be posting
more pictures in the next few days. I also hope to
get some scans of some slides of theirs put up as
well, but that will be a bit in the future.

I also just discovered that I am spelling Nunivak
wrong, including in the URL of my website. I will
correct this as soon as I can.

[reply from Robert Drozda:
Dear Mr. Estle,
I took a look at the photos that you have posted and I think you are doing a wonderful job. I know the people of Nunivak will by excited and appreciative to see them. I am not a Nunivak Islander myself, but I have many friends there and stay in touch often. I am the site administrator for Nunivak.org. I also conduct historical research relating to Nunivak Island, so I too am interested in the message you sent. I would also be very interested if you were able to provide a biography of your parents (brief if you want). Like where were they from originally? Did they teach elsewhere? How long were they in Mekoryuk, etc.. Did they write about their experiences, or keep journals or diaries?

I will put a link to your site on the Nunivak.org site. I wish I had more time to work on the site, there are many photographs that we could put up too. Next week I will be visited at my home by Howard and Muriel Amos of Mekoryuk, I know they will be interested in the photos you are posting. I will send you any information about who is in the photos. I'm sure you will be hearing from other Nunivaker's as well.

Thanks for emailing. I look forward to seeing more pictures, although I haven't even looked at all these yet. Keep Up the good work. I think it is especially important to the Nunivakers, many of whom are displaced and living all over the country, to be able to see photographs like these to keep in touch with their past.

Robert Drozda
PS. and thanks for correcting the spelling of the Island name.]

[reply from Mr. Estle, September 13, 2002]:

My father is from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and my
mother is originally from Boise, Idaho. My dad spent
quite a bit of time in Alaska and was in the military
during WWII, stationed up there. I think they were in
Mekoryuk for about 2 years. Somewhere I have a brief
bio my father wrote that covers a bit of that time.

Hopefully over the weekend I will get the rest of the
pictures put up. I am hoping to get one of those
Prime film scanners and then I will be able to scan in
the slides and get them put up. I had five of them
scanned to a photo cd and it cost me $2.50 per image.
At that rate it would be cheaper to spend the $170 or
so and buy a scanner.
As an aside, I don't know if your "Amos's" are
related, but somewhere I have in my possession an
original pencil drawing by Muriel Hannah of Oscar Amos
when he was a baby. Back when my mother died I
contacted him with the intention of sending him the
picture, but things got rather hectic and I misplaced
the address and never got it done.

From: Angelina SantaAna, September 12, 2002
Subject: Camai

Camai,
This is an awesome website. Thank you for creating it. I hope I can use
some of the information, I've already printed out the dictionary.
Thanks again.
Angie (Olrun) Santa Ana

From: "Nicholas Ladwig", July 18, 2002
Subject: question

can you please tell me what "wiinga" means?

thank you

[Reply: In Cup'ig, "wiinga" means "her husband."
The base "wii" means husband.
In Central Yup'ik "wiinga" is the personal pronoun "I" or "me."
Thanks for your inquiry.]

From: "Kratz, Todd (ToddKratz)", July 16, 2002
Subject: Kayaks

You have a very interesting web site. I was especially impressed with the dictionary. You reference something that I have wondered about for a long time - do any of the native groups still use tradtional kayaks for hunting or fishing? Do you know of any groups in Siberia that still use them? I would like to acquire one, particularly one that has actually been used for hunting or fishing. Thank you for your help.

Todd Kratz
Houston, Texas

From: "Lena Mathlaw", Jun 7, 2002
Subject: masks and traditonal health care

What can you tell me about the information received from masks (the stories told, use, etc.), and traditional health care (what did people do in an emergency, who took care of them, etc.)? I'm working on integrating some of this information in lessons for the National Health Science Career Path Model curriculm. Do you know of any websites or resources for traditional health care or history of health care prior to western contact? Thanks.

From: "Lena Mathlaw", June 12, 2002
Wow, I thought someone from Mekoryuk was taking care of the website. However, I am glad you had taken the time to respond and provide some good information. I've looked through the alaskool website and was able to download some information. I was aware of the masks book and was looking into that. It would be great if you could provide a copy of the interview w/ the Amos'. Thank you for the information you've shared so far.

From: Brie Altrogge and Lars Limburg, May 18, 2002
Subject: qay'ar (kayaks)

Hello and greetings!
My name is Brie, and my partner (whose name is Lars) and I are interested in learning to build kayaks (qay'ar) in the traditional way. We are 22 and 23, respectively, and have both left formal schooling in order to learn skills and crafts by hand. We spent last summer together in the little fishing village of Bella Coola, halfway up the British Columbia coast, where the Nuxalk people have lived for over ten thousand years. We were fortunate enough to be the guests of these generous folk, and had an amazing four months learning about the history of the valley, the plants and animals of the area, and their stunning cultural heritage. It was very humbling to realize so fully how briefly we white colonizers have lived here, compared to the true keepers of the land.
So, we are looking to different places, other than western schools and universities, to learn. We are interested to know if you have any opportunities in your kayak-building program for two guests, one American and one Canadian. We could learn from various schools and workshops on the Washington coast, but we're especially interested in learning about these boats in their original place, surrounded by songs and dances and people and stories. We would of course contribute financially so as not to be a burden on your community. We would be able to come at any time at all, either summer or winter.
If this is any kind of possibility at all, please let us know.

We are traveling right now and so don't have either a mail box or a phone number, but if you can give us the phone number of someone who is directly involved in the kayak building program who could give us more info, we would be very happy to call him or her.
Thanks!!!
Brie Altrogge and
Lars Limburg

[This message was forwarded to Mr. Skip Snaith (Qayista)]

From P. B. Roach, April 26,2002
Subject: word origin and meaning

My daughter asked me last night about the word "NANOOK". I told her that I thought it was of Eskimo origon. Was I right? What is the true meaning? Thanx for any help you can give.

[reply:
Phillip,
Yes, you were right. Nanook is an anglicized form of the Inuit or Inupiaq (Eskimo) word "Nanuq."
The translation is "Polar Bear."

There are 5 major Eskimo languages and many dialects. In addition to those mentioned above there are also Siberian Yupik and Central Alaskan Yupik and Southern Alaskan Yupik, also called Sugpiaq or Alutiiq.

The word for Polar Bear is very consistent across the Arctic. Where Inupiaq language transitions to Yupik language the word becomes "nanuaq." If you looked in the on-line dictionary at www.Nunivak.org you will not find Nanuaq. The reason is that the Cup'ig Eskimo word for Polar Bear is "arlunar."

I'm glad you asked this question because I learned something by answering it. Now I am curious why several Yup'ik dialects use arlunar rather than nanuq or nanuaq. There are several possible reasons that I am now looking at. The literal translation of Arlunar could be something like "like a killer whale", so there might be some kind of mythological, spiritual or biological connection between the Killer whale and the polar bear. I do know that on Nunivak Island that the Beluga whale and the wolf were considered to be the same creature, one the water form the other the land form. Perhaps the same could be true for the Killer Whale / Polar Bear. The Beluga/wolf is illustrated on the cultural map at http://www.nunivak.org/jukebox/south.html

thanks for your question, best to you and your inquisitive daughter.
Robert Drozda]

From: "julie jury", April 23, 2002

hello i was just wondering if you know a eskimo word? the word i was looking for was a person who is just a little native. please let me know if you can help me, thanks juile jury in anchorage alaska

From: Dina Kasper, April 3, 2002
Subject: The Loon Mask Sculpture Inqury

My name is Dina Kasper and I am writing a college paper on a sculpture by Mr Howard T. Amos that is on display at the Denver Art Museum in Colorado. We were assigned to pick one display in the museum and write a paper about it. As soon as I saw this mask, I instantly knew this was the one, even though it was one of the first sculptures I had even looked at in the museum! It is called the "Loon Mask Sculpture". I've been scouring the Internet trying to find out more about Yup'ik masks when I found you web site and an almost exact picture of the very mask that I have chosen to write about. If someone could please send me some information about the mask, I would be very very happy! What is the history of this mask/spirit wheel? Why was it created? Is there a story or parable behind the loon? What do the appendages of the fish and walrus (?) flippers represent? What does the carving of the wolf on the back of the loon represent? As much information as possible would be greatly appreciated!!!!

I love Eskimo art and culture because I was raised in Barrow, Alaska when I was a child. Out of the many, many places I have lived in my life, Barrow was my favorite place to live because of the close community and culture that was instilled in every facet of life.

Thank you for your time!

-Dina Kasper

[reply:
Hello Dina, My name is Robert and I am a consultant to the village of Mekoryuk on issues of culture, language and arts. I also maintain their website.

I'm attaching a copy of a paper that was written by Molly Lee, Curator of Ethnology at the University of Alaska Museum in Fairbanks. Her paper should answer most of your questions. I will also contact Molly and get a date for the paper, or maybe an updated version. I'm not sure if it was ever published. I believe the copy I am sending to you was for a lecture at the Alaska Anthropological Association meetings. Molly's paper will have some references that may be helpful to you, including:
Fienup-Riordan, Ann
1996 The Living Tradition of Yup’ik Masks. Seattle: University of Washington Press.
I believe there is also a web site relating to this book and an exhibit of Yup'ik masks from around the world that traveled to many US museums. Perhaps you already found it.

As you recognize these types of masks are beautiful, and there have been several men producing them in this style in both wood and ivory. I would be very interested in additional information you have on the mask. Do you know when the museum acquired it? from who? is it ivory or wood? Can you get this information from the museum collections curator for me?

We are trying to keep track of Nunivak artifacts and artwork that is in various museums. I am a personal friend of Mr. Howard T. Amos. He told me that he has not made wooden masks, only ivory. So I'm assuming right now that this mask is ivory.
The drawing of the loon mask on the web site was done by Mr. Hultman Kiokun, an accomplished Nunivak artist. He based the drawing on an actual mask that his father, Edward Kiokun made. That mask is wood and is at the Alaska State Museum in Juneau. Nunivak masks are in museums throughout the world and the style has been copied by others.

Well, I will send you the Lee paper and hope to hear from you again. What kind of class are you writing for?
Robert Drozda]

Robert-
Thank you for responding to my inquiry so quickly!
The sculpture is made out of ivory and baleen. The card attached to the display case says it was made in 1975 by Howard T Amos. It wasn't on the Native American floor, it was in a room where all of the art was donated from someone's private collection. It didn't seem to fit in with the rest of the collection. What I think happened was some rich person died and their kids probably donated all of their art to the museum. I can try and get a little more information for you, it might take me a week or two.

I am taking a humanities class online and one of our field trips was to the Denver Art Museum. Like I said before, we were to pick out our favorite piece from the entire museum and write a paper about it. That is pretty hard to do when they only give you the title, the year it was made, who made it and what it's made from.

I really appreciate your help!

From: "Marion C. \"Bill\" Jones, Jr.", March 29, 2002
Subject: Language

I have completed a woodcarving of a very tired and weary moose. I am looking
for a name. What would the name for a moose be in the Cup`ig language? Or
the word for tired or weary.
Thanks for your help.

Marion C "Bill" Jones

[reply:
Mr. Jones:
From the Nunivak Cup'ig Language Dictionary:
tuntuwag = moose
mernur- = to be tired; to be exhausted # mernurtur she is tired.
Although Cup'ig uses the same symbols as English the rules of pronunciation are different.
For example the "t" sound in unaspirated, that is it is more like an English 'D" as in the word "do" than a hard "T" as in the word "time".

Thank you for your inquiry.
Robert]

Marion C "Bill" Jones: Thanks for the fast reply. My wife has looked at the moose again and said that he looks like he is shy or bashful. What would those words be in Cup’ig. Thanks so much for your help.

[reply:
From the Cup'ig dictionary, as yet unpublished, preliminary version published to the web. For pronunciation rules see Yup'ik Eskimo Dictionary, compiled by Steven A. Jacobson, Alaska Native Language Center, 1984:

talluryug- = to feel shy in a respectful manner # talluryugtur she feels shy in a respectful manner / talluryugtua I feel shy in a respectful manner

augtaryug- = to be respectfully shy # augtaryugtur she is respectfully shy / augtaryugtua I am respectfully shy / augtaryugluni tanrit’ur he did not come because of respect

augtaryug- = to be respectfully shy # augtaryugtur she is respectfully shy / augtaryugtua I am respectfully shy / augtaryugluni tanrit’ur he did not come because of respect

kasnguyug- = to be bashful; to be embarrassed # kasnguyugtur he is bashful / kasnguyugtua I am bashful]

From: Lauri Weston-O'Brien, February 9, 2002

AWESOME! Great Work to all who had involvement in this project. I am proud of the work you all have done to document the history of our proud people.

Lauri Weston-O'Brien

From: "Tundra Drums, editorial", February 5, 2002
Dear Howard Amos:
Just a note to let you know I saw your website, and it looks
great! If you would like me to write a little story about it in the
paper, I will gladly do so. I will not do it though, if you do not feel
comfortable--so let me know. You can Email me at
drumsnew@unicom-alaska.com. Or call 800-770-3501.
Hope everything is okay there.
Danielle

From: Bryan Stuckey, January 29, 2002
Subject: GREAT SITE

GOOD JOB !! GREAT SITE !!
Bryan Stuckey

From: "Clay Scarzella", January 28, 2002
Subject: Cama-i

Cama-i Nakaar, Nussaalar!
"Cangacit?"
Wiinga, Assirtua.
I was doing a computer search on Nunivak Island and found this site. It is way cool! I printed a few sites so I can send it to my mom.
Is the Cupi'g Dictionary almost finished? I would like to buy several. I would like one, and I would like to send one to Mom and one to Gerald and to his kids.
I hope all goes well with you and your family.
Please keep in touch.
Clay "Mellaar"

[reply (Howard and Muriel Amos): Hello Mellaar,
Glad you like our Nunivak website. We are not perfect in this area of the electronic world, always seeking ways to improve what we have. The dictionary is currently in process of edit work, even though it is in that process, we are already find mistakes. Too much work involved in it already, we plan to print it just the way it is with a clause that it is not perfect. Our goal now is to print it and pass it on to people like yourself so our Cup'ig langauge will not disappear forever.
We're looking at the spring of 2002 for the initial publication. The Alaska Native Language Center at UAF is editing the dictionary. The person incharge of the editing was ill for some time, and we were crossing our fingers that he wouldn't kick the bucket on us.
If you are not aware, your great uncle, Walter Tutqir Amos, passed away on January 25, 2002 at 81 years of age. He had a very fruitful life and contributed so much to our cultural preservation and mass contribution for the entry words in our dictionary.
It is "Kuinga canritua" (I am ok)
Tawa piura
Muriel and Howard]

From: "Sarah Dotomain", January 27, 2002
Subject: Stories

Hi,
First of all, I would like to send my sympathys to the Amos family. I was very saddened to hear about Walter Amos passing on. My prayers are with you all.
Now, I have a question? Has anyone heard of a story of a Japanese ship that was shipwrecked at Nuniwar years ago? If so, do they know approximately what year that was. I heard my dad Tom Dotomain talking about it and was just wondering about the year and maybe it can be put in the history or story section. Thank you--Sarah Priscilla Dotomain

From: "bryon l. amos", January 26, 2002
Subject: i am impressed

Hello again, Qiawigaugua,

I am indeed impressed the very fact of the website. Although am desiring to see the movement of further accomplishments in improvement of the website.it is a good start. I would eventually like to see a business site regarding our business's introduced to the world regarding services of what we can offer the business world. Information is indeed a great start. But my referance is far more broader as referance to developing a website for business purposes,as well as developing purposes for tourism. I am glad to see the a great opportunity of our ancestoral background. Please direct photos of the great and famous artists from nunivak as well, remembering those who were deseased and the line of their works, please be advised that is of vital importance to our culture as well. If you need any more information on such criteria please feel free to call me or write me back. Thanks for writing.

Sincerily Qiawigar
Bryon L. Amos

From: "Sarah Dotomain", January 25, 2002
Subject: Nunivak Island Webpage

I just received the www.nunivak.org from my cousin Marian Shavings---wow! I am so impressed with it. I just can't seem to get away from my computer. You people did a very nice job with the website. Keep up the good work. I've always wondered about my heritage--moving away at a young age, and I had returned a few years ago for the first time since my family left in 1956, I was so glad just a few of the familiar places were still there.
Hope to come and visit one of these years again.
Now I live in Shermans Dale, PA. But I do go back and see my parents about every year.
Thanks again------Sarah Dotomain

From: "jackie carucci", January 25, 2002
Subject: your website

Hey,
This is a cousin of yours (or something), your website is
AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great Job! My mom says HI - (Stella)!
Love - jacki carucci

From: Edward Ike Kiokun, January 19, 2002
Subject: hello

I was just looking at your web page and I found it
quite interesting. I was wondering if you could put a
little bit more information on the pictures that were
taken on the island. Like where the round ball and is
used as a grave marker. Also where the man is looking
off to the ocean. If you could do that it would be
nice; so that people who want to visit these places
will know where to look and to pay respect to those
who brought them this far in life. Thank you
Sincerely, Edward Ike Kiokun

From: "Jim Woodcock", January 8, 2002
Subject: very interesting

I just found you on the web and very interested. I knew nothing about Nunivak so I learned something new,today.

I live in Chautauqua County NY...50 miles South of Buffalo.

JIM WOODCOCK

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