Project Jukebox

Digital Branch of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Oral History Program

Ethnobotany Elders Council Meeting, May 2009

Recordings from the third meeting of the Ethnobotany Elders Council held on May 19-21, 2009 at the Kuskokwim Campus of the University of Alaska Fairbanks in Bethel, Alaska.

Elders Council May 2009.jpgThe Elders Council was comprised of Yup'ik Elders from villages of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta who came together to discuss traditional Yup'ik plant knowledge. They provide the Yup'ik names for plants and discuss their various traditional uses, including as food and for healing and medicinal purposes. Information from this meeting was incorporated into "A Guide to the Ethnobotany of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Region" edited by Kevin Jernigan, with assistance from Oscar Alexie, Sophie Alexie, Michelle Stover, Rose Meier, Carolyn Parker, Mary Pete, Memmi Rasmussen, Rose Domnick, and Alice Fredson.

The conversation is mostly in Yup'ik. Translated notes from the recording are available as a PDF, but at this time a complete translation of the gathering is not available.

Watch video of the sessions:

Part 1
May 19, 2009
Part 2
May 19, 2009
Part 3
May 19 & 20, 2009
Part 4
May 20, 2009
Part 5
May 20, 2009
Part 6
May 20, 2009
Part 7
May 20, 2009
Part 8
May 21, 2009
Part 9
May 21, 2009

The following Elders participated:

cecelia andrews.jpg
Cecelia Andrew
(Chevak)
Evon Azean.jpg
Evon Azean
(Kongiganuk)
Rita Blumenstein.jpg
Rita Blumenstein
(Anchorage)
julie brown.jpg
Julia Brown
(Kongiganak)
Joseph David.jpg
Joseph David
(Mekoryuk)
Margie David.jpg
Margie David
(Mekoryuk)
olinka george.jpg
Olinka George
(Akiachak)
Esther Green.jpg
Esther Green
(Bethel)
Mary Gregory.jpg
Mary Gregory
(Bethel)
Katherine Hart2.jpg
Katherine Hart
(St. Mary's)
Peter Jacob.jpg
Peter Jacob
(Bethel)
Lena Long.jpg
Lena Long
(St. Mary's)
Marie Myers.jpg
Marie Myers
(Pilot Station)
modesta myers.jpg
Modesta Myers
(Pilot Station)
Tim Myers.jpg
Tim Myers
(Pilot Station)
Thecla Paul.jpg
Thecla Paul
(Pilot Station)

Organizers/facilitators included: Mary Pete, Kevin Jernigan, Rose Meier, Sophie Alexie, Oscar Alexie, and Carolyn Parker. All photographs were taken by Caroline Sanders.

Elders Council Meeting #1, May 2008

Elders Council Meeting #2, September 2008