Rural blog

The Village is a Daily News blog about life and politics in rural Alaska. Its main author is ADN reporter Kyle Hopkins. Come here for breaking news on village issues, plus interviews, videos and photos. But that's just part of the story. We want to feature your pictures, videos and stories, too. Think of The Village as your bulletin board. E-mail us anything you’d like to share with the rest of Alaska -- your letters to the editor, the photos of your latest hunt or video of your latest potlatch. (We love video.)


Kyle Hopkins

I was born in Sitka, have lived in Kake, Skagway and Fairbanks and joined the ADN in 2005 after writing for the Anchorage Press and Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. I started blogging for the paper in 2006 with The Trail, our blog about the governor's race. Then came the Alaska Politics blog. Now I'm covering government and rural affairs and live in Anchorage with my wife, Rebecca. (Update: Our daughter Alice was born May 31. Thanks everyone for the suggestions.) E-mail me at khopkins@adn.com and find me on Twitter at twitter.com/ADNVillage.

 

READER-SUBMITTED PHOTOS

Life in Rural Alaska

Post your photos from the Bush and check out what others are sending in.

STORY

Fourth-grade whale hunter

A nine-year-old delivered the killing blow to a 32-foot bowhead whale in Barrow.

AUDIO SLIDE SHOW

Relocating Newtok

Residents of the Yup'ik Eskimo village and military reservists on site discuss Newtock's relocation.

VIDEO

Coping with suicide

Willie Ballot, of Selawik, describes life after his daughter's suicide.

PHOTOS

Kotzebue in April

While Southcentral Alaska enjoyed warm and sunny April days, in Kotzebue snow and winter-weather maintained.

Foxes! - 2/5/2010 6:04 pm

Send-off party today for Olympian Callan Chythlook-Sifsof - 2/5/2010 1:33 pm

A runway on the ocean: Plane service returns to Diomede - 2/4/2010 7:27 pm

Game Board round-up: New rules for potlatch hunts, exotic pets - 2/3/2010 4:26 pm

Point Hope caribou case: Remaining hunters on trial - 2/3/2010 10:42 am

'Deadliest Catch' captain suffers stroke - 1/30/2010 3:58 pm

An obituary: Jerel Redfox - 1/24/2010 8:03 pm

Troopers: Bodies discovered after Sand Point plane crash - 1/24/2010 6:06 pm

Alaska Census jobs among the highest paid in U.S. - 1/24/2010 1:01 pm

Coast Guard: No plans to resume search for pilots today - 1/23/2010 1:32 pm

The Kotzebue diaries: Chickens, guns & grub - 1/22/2010 6:13 pm

"Breathe In" - 1/21/2010 2:49 pm

Opinion: What the Massachusetts race means for Alaska - 1/20/2010 3:18 pm

Advisory vote: Bethel voters say they don't want bars, liquor stores - 1/20/2010 9:52 am

John Baker, of Kotz, wins Kusko 300 - 1/17/2010 8:01 pm

Now on your phone: Juneau police - 1/17/2010 7:26 pm

Safety dance - 1/16/2010 10:16 pm

Feds declare fisheries disaster for Yukon kings - 1/15/2010 11:01 am

There's no such thing as fast-paced when it comes to subsistence politics - 1/14/2010 6:37 pm

'I Am Eskimo' - 1/13/2010 9:21 pm

Feds to study link between climate change, subsistence fishing patterns - 1/13/2010 5:46 pm

"Mmmmmmmmmmm ..." - 1/12/2010 7:23 pm

'I miss the ocean'

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Formerly of Savoonga, Yaari Kingeekuk now works in Anchorage for the Alaska Native Heritage Center.
(Photo by Brian Adams)Formerly of Savoonga, Yaari Kingeekuk now works in Anchorage for the Alaska Native Heritage Center.
(Photo by Brian Adams)

A former Savoonga resident writes about moving to the city, and trying to balance where she lives with where she's from:


Living in Two Worlds

By Yaari Kingeekuk

My St. Lawrence Island Yupik name is Yaari. I was very fortunately raised by my grandparents, Jimmie and Mabel Toolie. I come from the Aymaaramka and Sanighmelnguq clan. I have 7 beautiful children. My youngest was adopted and we are blessed to have her as she is blessed to have us.

I was raised in a traditional Masingka (St. Lawrence Island Yupik) way. I was taught the important lessons, values, and self discipline by my grandparents and my parents. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be who I am today.

Here I am living in two worlds, the St. Lawrence Island Yupik and western way. I live in a city which to me is big; and that’s Anchorage. I struggle as I try to survive in both worlds. Sometimes I feel like I’m being pulled both ways. Somehow, I try to pull myself more towards my culture, but then I realize I need to balance my life with both. Especially if I’m here in the “big” city. It isn’t easy. Although I know my ancestors walk with me as I go through these changes. I feel the presence of my Apa who was a very wise and knowledgeable man when I’m going through tough times. I could hear him telling me, “Aatak aygumun angwaaghnaqi – Keep paddling against the wind."

I feel so far away from home, my culture, and my people. I miss the ocean, I miss the tundra, and I miss the relaxing pace. Yet working for the Alaska Native Heritage Center makes me feel closer to home. I have a lot of good opportunities to educate the outside world about my people and my culture. It makes me feel good. It’s worth while to educate people. Even if I get through to just one person, it matters.

Its different here; the people, the environment, the pace, the attitude, the food, and the values. The type of work we do here in the city is more based on the western ways. It’s different at home. To me working at home is about survival and helping others. It’s definitely harder. Everything in the city is about economy. Everything at home is about values and culture. It’s something our people did for thousands of years. But living here has also given me the chance to make friends all walks of life. I have friends of many colors and from all over the world. It makes me feel good that I have people to look up to and talk when I need to. I have certain friends I call for certain things from sharing joy to crying on their shoulders.

I moved away for different reasons. It’s mostly because of lack of housing and jobs. I decided I wasn’t going to wait another four years for employment. I also decided I wasn’t going to live another several years with one family to each bedroom.

I still get homesick for certain things. Especially now that whaling season has begun. I’m hoping and praying our people has a successful whaling season. I’m also hoping and praying that the Inupiat people will have a successful whaling season as well. I’m happy to know that I’m able to share my joy with not only my people, but with my Inupiat friends when a whale is landed at home; they to share their joy with us. It’s difficult here in the city when my people land a whale. I pull out my cell phone, “Will this person have the same joy as I?..Nope. Will this person?”…I go on until I find someone who would. Mmmmm! Fresh mangtak. I can’t wait until I sink my teeth into that mangtak!

Even though I feel broken in half, I have to make the best of both worlds. This is me, this is who I am. Living in both worlds and must remember to keep paddling against the wind.


  2     December 7, 2009 - 12:38am | bolingchina

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