Project Jukebox Survey

Help us redesign the Project Jukebox website by taking a very short survey!

Lawrence "Savik" Ahmaogak

Lawrence Savik Ahmaogak is an Iñupiaq elder from Utqiaġvik, Alaska (formerly known as Barrow). He is the son of Walton and Cynthia Ahmaogak, and his grandfather, Roy Ahmaogak was a minister in the community in the 1940s who was one of the first to work on translating the bible into Iñupiaq. In 1958, Savik married his wife, Myrna, with whom he had a large family of children and grandchildren. Myrna passed away in January 2013. Savik was captain of the Savik whaling crew, until age prevented him from going out on the ice, at which time he turned over leadership to his son and nephew. In addition to being a successful whaler and hunter, Savik supported his large family through a variety of jobs, including working at the Naval Arctic Research Laboratory (NARL) in the 1950s and 1960s.

Lawrence "Savik" Ahmaogak appears in the following new Jukebox projects:

Sea Ice in Northern Alaska

Interview Title	Abstract	Archive #: Oral History	Project	Date of Interview
Roy and Savik Ahmaogak, Part 1	Roy Ahmaogak and his father, Savik Ahmaogak were interviewed on June 1, 2017 by Karen Brewster at their home in Utqiaġvik, Alaska (formerly known as Barrow). In this first part of a two part interview, Roy talks about the knowledge he has of sea ice conditions in the Barrow area, and using this knowledge to be safe out on the ice. He discusses how he learned about ice, the importance of ice safety, the differences between ice types, the effect of wind and currents on ice movement, and how ice conditions have changed in his lifetime. He also talks about whaling, trail building, and the importance of cooperation for whaling success. Savik appears in the second part of this interview.	2013-25-39_PT.1	Sea Ice in Northern Alaska	Jun 1, 2017
Roy and Savik Ahmaogak, Part 2	This is the continuation of an interview with Roy and Savik Ahmaogak on June 1, 2017 by Karen Brewster at their home in Utqiagvik, Alaska (formerly known as Barrow). In this second part of a two part interview, Roy talks about the large ice-break off event that happened offshore from Barrow in 1997, the effect of wind and current on ice movement, and how he learned about ice from elders. About half way through, Savik Ahmaogak joins the interview and discusses some of his experiences hunting out on the ice, the importance of watching the ice and the current to keep from getting drifted out, and two times when he got got caught in moving and piling ice. He also talks about learning about ice, ice safety, and how his grandfather got drifted out on the ice.	2013-25-39_PT.2	Sea Ice in Northern Alaska	Jun 1, 2017