Senior Trip - Chevak Style
Actually it is Sea Week. the 10th-12th graders get to go out the river each fall for a week of learning about subsistence survival with some of our teachers and experienced folks from the community. A couple of the teachers who went shared some of their photos with me just for my blog. Maybe if I am here next year, I might take some personal leave days and go with them. It is pretty tough out there - but everyone seems to just love the experience. For many of out students this is the first time for many of the activities they participate in during the week.

Here the kids are leaving on the boats. Over half of the 10-12th graders went for the four days.

The girls are making Fried Bread - similar to tunnel cakes but no powdered sugar.


This man is the very well known John Pingayak from Chevak. He is our cultural heritage teacher here at the school and is has an honorary doctorate from Univ of Alaska. He is well known throughout the State of Alaska for his cultural heritage activities.

John is teaching the kids to make - well I forget the Cup'ik word (manuq) - but the things they fish with - remember a foot long stick, with a long string, some nails or a spark ply for a weight and some bait. It works beautifully. I haven't seen a fishing rod in Chevak since I arrived.

Felicia - one of my best customers in the library, is munaqing - fishing. She has to get around in a wheel chair - but that did not stop her from going to Sea Week and having a great time. She did everything anybody else did.

Our friend Jeanne with her fish she caught with the manuq!


The high school girls are defeathering some birds the kids have shot. They will cook and eat them later.

This young lady is pretty proud of her work!

The seal hunt begins. The boats are synchronized - surround the seals and criss crossing each other - always someone in front with the gun.

I believe there were six to eight boats on the water. Jeanne said it was a magnificent experience - not often these kids get to go. The gas is quite expensive here and money is tight.

Jack taking aim at a seal - he is one of my good library customers also.

Here someone is harpooning the seal after it has been shot.

Bringing in the seal. Notice the whiskers. That is good.

Isn't it beautiful?

Lawrence and Jack both shot the seal at the same time - so they had to share it.

The man is giving the seal a drink of water - that has been in his mouth. Oh, I'll never get this straight - but the seals like fresh water and when they get hunted they get out into the salt water. So when the seal is caught - the catcher gives the seal a drink of fresh water - or rather gives the seal's spirit a drink of fresh water. That way the bladder, which is - let me stop , I'll never get it straight. It is a sign of respect for the seal's spirit.