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Riley Morry

Riley Morry was a Nunamiut elder from Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska. He was born in 1942 on the Killik River and in 1949 moved to Anaktuvuk Pass when bands of nomadic Nunamiut from Chandalar Lake and the Killik River settled together at the new village. He grew up living a traditional subsistence lifestyle moving from camp to camp following the seasons and the animals. His grandfather was well-known Nunamiut leader, Simon Paneak. In the 1970s, Riley was actively involved in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and the selection of village lands, and later in the establishment of Gates of the Arctic National Park. He emphasized the importance of protecting the Native subsistence way of life.

Date of Birth:

Oct 5, 1942

Date of Death:

Nov 12, 2007

Riley Morry appears in the following new Jukebox projects:

Gates of the Arctic National Park

Interview Title	Abstract	Archive #: Oral History	Project	Date of Interview
Riley Morry	Riley Morry was interviewed on December 15, 1992 by Bill Schneider at the Simon Paneak Memorial Museum in Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska--the facility being named after his grandfather. Riley was asked to do this interview because he has been involved for over twenty years in Anaktuvuk Pass land issues. The interview was centered on that activity and he mentions some of the issues he worked on. The timing of this interview was particularly appropriate since it had just been announced that the National Park Service proposed to swap some lands and declassify wilderness to accommodate the Anaktuvuk Pass villagers' use of All Terrain Vehicles on the tundra. Riley speaks to that issue and explains why people use all-terrain vehicles. The interview was arranged by Grant Spearman, Curator of the Museum. Grant and student worker Debbie Mekiana were present during the interview.	93-15-52	Gates of the Arctic National Park	Dec 15, 1992