What drew you to the Caleb Scholars Program?
I was drawn to the Caleb Scholars Program because of its’ unique approach to Inuit-led conservation but also the support that it offers to the Indigenous community in our region. Because our communities are near the Bering Sea, I know that we all share an enriched and valuable connection to the land, the sea and the ability
to live a subsistence lifestyle that our environment here offers. I also understand the
importance of representation and the value that traditional ecological knowledge holds when it
comes to conservation and decision-making that directly impacts Inuit ways of life and its’
continuity. The Caleb Scholars Program offers support and a light to Indigenous peoples that
have interest in honoring their ancestors and continuing the education of our past to ensure
our futures.
Please share a reflection of when have you have felt a connection to the ocean or the land.
I feel a soul-deep connection to the ocean and land in the quiet moments when I’m near them. Because I live in Nome, I have direct access to the beach of the Bering Sea and spend time there
in every season. I feel a connection to my family that has passed on and to my ancestors when I
feel the ocean breeze, smell the scent of the ocean and feel the coolness of the water on my
toes. When I’m on the tundra I’m entranced by the smell of the tundra and all of the plants and
berries I harvest out there. My closest connection when I’m on the tundra is to my gram who
passed away a few years ago, I remember growing up watching her slow and easy walk on the
tundra whether she was picking tundra tea, blackberries or salmonberry’s I could always tell
how much she enjoyed being out there and love that I can share that joy with her now every
time I’m on the tundra.
Do you have a personal story about meeting Caleb, a connection to his legacy and impact, or are you a family relation?
The maternal side of my family is from St. Lawrence Island, and I am
Siberian Yupik, so I know of Caleb and the work he did as I’ve heard from others and read
about. Although I never had the pleasure of meeting Caleb, my great grandmother and Caleb’s
father were siblings making Caleb and my gram were second cousins.
