My Eskimo Family 67 (continued from January 23)

To start reading from the beginning, go to May 11, 2008. The first time I heard about the Iditarod was one night at the dinner table. Martin explained it was a sled dog race that began in Anchorage and ended in Nome. The mushers came right through Golovin on their last (dog) leg to White [...]

Read Full Post »

My Eskimo Family 57 (continued from September 6)

To start reading from the beginning, go to May 11, 2008. Weeks before arriving at the camp in Omalik, Uncle Martin and Aunt Maggie talked at the dinner table about squirrel hunting. I immediately assumed they spoke of guns — maybe BB guns. “You pick them up by the scruff of the neck and reach [...]

Read Full Post »

My Eskimo Family 56 (continued from August 24)

To start reading from the beginning, go to May 11, 2008. Martin flew the four of us women and Belinda’s dog in two trips. We had sleeping bags, food, cook stuff, traps, skinning supplies, fuel (wood and kerosene) and a spare change of clothes and gear for possible cold. September brought sudden heat or chill. [...]

Read Full Post »

My Eskimo Family 55 (continued from August 9)

To start reading from the beginning, go to May 11, 2008. By fall, everything was changing. Cranes high overhead were flying south — flying so high they would not have been noticed were it not for their chorus of guttural calls. “Eee-shi-gi”, declared one of the girls looking up at the seemingly thousands of cranes. [...]

Read Full Post »

My Eskimo Family 40 (continued from March 17)

To start reading from the beginning, go to May 11, 2008. A phone was fastened to a post near the aviation gas pump. There must be a “call me anytime” understanding between bush pilots, for the 6:00 am time did not give Donny a moment of hesitation to call the number posted. Someone like Donny–half [...]

Read Full Post »

My Eskimo Family 39 (continued from March 10)

To start reading from the beginning, go to May 11, 2008. Finally, between three and four a.m. we decided to pack up our sleeping bags and fly out of there. The gas pumps were closed but Donny figured we would stop later that morning. A Cessna 170 is not equipped with sophisticated instruments. Navigation is [...]

Read Full Post »