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Priscilla Russell

Priscilla Russell (Kari) is an ethnobotanist and anthropologist who has done cultural research projects in Southwestern and Southcentral Alaska since the 1980s. She has conducted oral history interviews in the Lake Iliamna and Katmai regions, and is the author and co-author of many reports and studies about Alaska Native cultures, place names, and resource use, including Tanaina Plantlore, Dena'ina K'et'una: An Ethnobotany of the Dena'ina People of Southcentral Alaska (1987), Bird Traditions of the Lime Village Area Dena'ina: Upper Stony River Ethno-Ornithology with co-author George West (UA Press, 2003), and Alutiiq Plantlore: An Ethnobotany of the Peoples of Nanwalek and Port Graham, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska (2011).

Priscilla Russell appears in the following new Jukebox projects:

As Interviewer

Interview Title	Archive #: Oral History	Project	Abstract
Albert Wassillie Sr.	98-27-06	Lake Clark National Park	Albert Wassillie, Sr. was interviewed on July 19,1985 by Priscilla Russell in Nondalton, Alaska. In this interview, Albert talks about living off the land by traveling the country to seasonal campsites, the early days in the village, the first trading post, and why the old village of Nondalton was abandoned. He also discusses the relationship and trading between Dena'ina and Yup'ik (Dutna) people. (Please note that Pete Koktelash was also interviewed on this tape, but his portion is not included here.)
Nels and Rose Hedlund, Part 1	98-27-11_PT.1	Lake Clark National Park	Nels and Rose Hedlund talk with Priscilla Russell and Andrew Balluta on July 27,1985 in Chekok, Alaska. In this first part of a two part interview, the Hedlunds locate places on a map, and talk about their uses, their Dena'ina names, and what these names mean. They discuss the history of trade and warfare between the Dena'ina and the Yup'ik in the region, and Nels describes the route traveled by Yup'ik people migrating into the Iliamna area from the Kuskokwim River. They also discuss their own subsistence and trapping activities.
Nels and Rose Hedlund, Part 2	98-27-11_PT.2	Lake Clark National Park	This is the continuation of an interview with Rose and Nels Hedlund on July 27, 1985 by Priscilla Russell and Andrew Balluta in Chekok, Alaska. In this second part of a two part interview, Rose talks about basket making, sewing, and tells a story about Ptarmigan Women and Spruce Hen Women to show how important it is for a woman to be a good seamstress. She also discusses camping, trapping and Dena'ina place names. Nels periodically chimes in from the background with additional place name information.
Joe Tanape, Sr.	97-235-02	Nanwalek and Port Graham	Joseph "Joe" Tanape, Sr. was interviewed on September 12, 1986 by Priscilla Russell and Ralph Johnson in Nanwalek, Alaska. In this interview, Joe talks about living a traditional subsistence lifestyle, including hunting, trapping, preservation of food, and use of animals for making clothing. He discusses celebrating the New Year with masking, starring, and singing, and how the practices have changed over time. He also sings some songs. Only the first and last sections of this interview are in English. The rest is Joe speaking in his Native Sugt'stun language. No translation of the audio is available.