Food and life in Alaska

It’s been a while since I posted – spring is finally here – the start of a busy summer of harvesting food – on land and water. One of my favorite things to drink that come from the tundra;

There are always some eatable food all around but it requires walk in deep or shallow waters;

Sometimes we are lucky or bust. Even if what you’re looking for is not found it’s an adventure to roam and look far and wide.

On the tundra going back generations on both my parents side – the tundra is mapped out by memory. Spring calls the migration of the birds and tundra mammals hear the song birds. When snow melts and rivers finally floe freely, its the best time of the year to harvest fresh soul food on the Alaskan land and water.

To my surprise the winter sunlight has bleached the moose hide legs from the fall hunt;

I will make these into kameksak/piluguq. Shorter version like the one my grandma gave to me. I’ll find them somewhere in my craft corner pile;

Not to mention spring and summer, Fairbanks is the capital garage sale in the north. I’ll be searching for a cozy closet for the corner pile. In the meantime – I’ve been in and out of sewing fur. Here are the latest creative ideas;

Left over shaved caribou, caribou fall legs and squirrel purse idea with red thread. I am also working on the toddler squirrel parka;

Sewing on fur side makes it smooth on the other side.

Patching some furs. Measuring and cutting with sharp blade;

The parka will be simple as possible – but ideas are always welcome. I told my mom to bring her simple parka in which it will help me gain ideas.

Springs brings fresh pike dried and roe made into protein dessert, for reals!!!!! My brother and sister in law sent me dried pike and authentic Yupik dessert early spring – quyana;

Thanks to family and friends-past fews days I’ve been energized by neqpiaq (real food) – great company and laughter, quyana for sharing your celebration with me. Cheers to all the graduates with this big pot of tea;

More posts to come. Quyana tailuci, piurci!

Author: Nasek'taq

Merna Wharton “Nasek’taq” is Yup'ik from Akiacuaq (Akiachak) lives in Anchorage Alaska. Merna is an Alaska Native artist, poet, traditional and contemporary seamstress, carver, gatherer of greens and berries, and loves the outdoors of Alaska! Merna enjoys finding art in natural elements and shares her experiences through her website, nasektaq.com. Merna crafts to preserve her culture and art and shares her worldview from a remote village Yup’ik girl’s perspective with a glimpse of life in Alaska in her writing and poems. More information about her art can be found at https://www.rasmuson.org/49writers/artist-profile/merna-wharton/.

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