With some fantastic photos and first-person reports from across the state, the 'I Am Eskimo' Facebook group has quietly amassed nearly 4,000 members.
In this quick e-mail interview, creator George Sookiayak of Anchorage explains how:
Q:Where did you grow up and what do you do now?
A: I grew up around Western Alaska, Shaktoolik, Unalakleet, Mekoryuk, and Nome. I moved here to Anchorage in 1992 and attended Clark Junior High. I moved to Nome in 1994 and attended Nome-Beltz my freshman year of high school. I finished high school in my hometown, Shaktoolik.
Currently working here in Anchorage as an IT Tech Support Specialist for Bering Straits Native Corporation, and also do freelance web design trough my website, www.a0506.com.
A: Why'd you start the "I Am Eskimo" page?
Q: I wanted a Facebook group where I can share ideas, stories, and pictures with other Eskimos. I chose to use the word Eskimo before I Am Yupik/Inupiaq/Inuit is too long. And also because I am not any one type of Eskimo, I'm Siberian Yupik and Inupiaq.
There's been discussion on this Facebook group about why the word 'Eskimo' is used. I feel that it is a word that many non-Natives would know about, versus Malemuit, or Yup'ik.
Q: Do you find most the members are Alaskans?
A: A large majority are from Alaska, but many now live outside of Alaska.
We do have members living all over the globe including most of the 50 US states, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, the Faroe Islands, and Russia.
Q: Did you expect to have nearly 4,000 members so soon? Why do you think it has taken off?
A: I never expected I Am Eskimo to grow so large and at such a rapid pace. I knew that some from Canada and perhaps even Greenland would join, but never expected Eskimos from all over the globe to join. It is very interesting to read all the introductions from members about who they are and where they are from.
I think it's taken off because there wasn't really a Facebook group focused squarely on Eskimos. There are many groups focused on Alaskans, Native Americans, Canadians, there are groups about people from certain areas of Alaska, and for various Native people, but none focused squarely on Eskimos.
Eskimo people are very sociable people, and Facebook has been a good networking website that allows us to connect with far away friends and relatives easily.
(Note: To check out the group, just search "I Am Eskimo" on Facebook.)
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