NAVIGATION
Friends & Family
Being new to the Aleutian
Islands has allowed many opportunities for us to meet new people! It is
so interesting how different the culture is here compared to our lives
back in New York. One of the tribes here, the Qawalangin has been
very helpful with making us feel comfortable. Laresa and her
mother Sharon are members of the tribe who have been showing us all
around the islands. She has also been giving us an indepth
history of the Aleutian Islands. One day she took us on a tour of
a nearby cove, known as HumpyOs Cove, where we were able to see the
salmon and see fishing take place first hand.
It was here where we met
another friend, Chester. He is a fisherman along with some of our
other friends known as Harold, Anton, Paul and Emil. They were
helpful to show us one of the most influential aspects of Aleutian
life- fishing. Since the people are surrounded by water
everywhere, the sea became a big part of thier lives. Aleuts were
some of the first people to invent "baidarka" which resemble present
day kayaks. Fishing has changed dramatically from the past due to
advances in technology. They taught us that fish comprise 70% of
the subsitence harvest in some areas!!! Thats a lot of fish!
I do miss my family, who stayed back in New York, but I am glad that I go to go through this amazing experience in such a different culture. I cannot wait until my family visitis to show them the differences in our cultures.
I do miss my family, who stayed back in New York, but I am glad that I go to go through this amazing experience in such a different culture. I cannot wait until my family visitis to show them the differences in our cultures.