Elsie Iqsak (Alexie) Wassilie was interviewed on on March 30, 2006 by Sophie Kasayulie, Louann Rank, Karen Brewster, Frank Chingliak, and Elena Chingliak at Elsie's home in Akiachak, Alaska. In this interview, Elsie speaks in Yup'ik and English about Akiachak in the 1930's, various people's sod houses, and Marie Forrest's trading post and bunkhouse while drawing a map of the layout of the old village. She also talks about changes in the river channel and the location of the old site of Qikertarmiut, moving to Akiachak, early days of mail delivery, traveling by dog team, and spring beaver hunting. View a map of the village of Akiachak, circa 1935, with buildings identified by Elsie Wassillie.
Digital Asset Information
Project: Akiachak - Then and Now
Date of Interview: Mar 30, 2006
Narrator(s): Elsie Iqsak Wassilie
Interviewer(s): Sophie Kasayulie, Louann Rank, Karen Brewster, Frank Chingliak
Videographer: Frank Chingliak
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Sections
1) Marie Forrest's bunkhouse used mainly by non-Natives coming to her trading post, and dances held at the bunkhouse. Marie Forrest was also the postmistress.
2) The 1930's layout of the village that included fish camps at the downriver end, the main channel of the Kuskokwim River running in front of the village, and the abandoned island site of Qikertarmiut. (View a map of the village of Akiachak, circa 1935, with buildings identified by Elsie Wassillie.)
3) Kenneth Peter's sod house and Noah Nose's sod house in the 1950's.
4) Akiachak's mail delivered first to Akiak by plane and then carried by William Lomack to Akiachak by dog team or boat, and that Elsie moved to Akiachak in 1947.
5) Staying with Louie Lomack's wife in spring while her father hunted beaver in the mountains.
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Transcript
Section 1: trading post -- bunkhouse\ non-Natives -- travel\ non-Natives -- bunkhouse\ store -- Forrest, Marie \ Forrest, Marie -- postmistress\ dances -- bunkhouse|
Section 2: village -- downriver\ fish camps -- village\ sandbar -- lack of\ landing strip -- lack of\ lake -- location\ lake -- small\ river -- channel\ channel -- main\ channel -- location\ island -- Qikertarmiut\ island -- abandonment\ island -- size change|
Section 3: Peter, Kenneth -- sod house\ sod house -- past\ Nose, Noah -- sod house\ sod house -- 1950s|
Section 4: mail -- delivery\ mail -- Akiak\ mail -- Lomack, William \ mail -- dog team\ mail -- boat\ Akiak -- mail planes\ mail -- seasons\ relocation -- date|
Section 5: Lomack, Louie -- wife\ Lomack, Louie -- residence\ residence -- spring\ hunting -- spring\ hunting -- mountains\ hunting -- beaver\ Samuelson, Oscar|