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Kumi Rattenbury
Kumi Rattenbury is an ecologist with the National Park Service's Arctic Inventory and Monitoring Network in Fairbanks, Alaska. She earned a master's degree in biology in 2006 from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in Fairbanks, Alaska, where she studied reindeer herding, caribou, and social and environmental change on the Seward Peninsula. As a part of her master's research, Kumi participated in oral history interviews with reindeer herders for the Reindeer Herding: The Present & The Past Project Jukebox.
As Interviewer
| Interview Title | Archive #: Oral History | Project | Abstract |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rose Atuk Fosdick | 2000-102-34 | Reindeer Herding: The Present and the Past |
Rose Atuk Fosdick was interviewed on August 7, 2003 by Bill Schneider and Kumi Rattenbury at the Reindeer Herder's House in Nome, Alaska. Rose was director of Kawerak's Reindeer Herders Association and had a long-standing interest in documenting herding. Rose was chosen for an interview because she participated in some of the other interviews for this project, had reviewed the project, and had extensive experience with the herders and the issues that are important to them. Her interview came at the end of the project, so she was well-positioned to provide some general observations and to comment more specifically on the issues raised at the Reindeer Herders Association. In this interview, Rose talks about the evolution of the reindeer industry on the Seward Peninsula, reindeer management strategies, the effect of climate change on herding, and coordination between the Reindeer Herders Association and state and federal agencies. |
| Fred Goodhope, Jr. | 2000-102-37 | Reindeer Herding: The Present and the Past |
Fred Goodhope, Jr. was interviewed on March 23, 2005 by Bill Schneider and Kumi Rattenbury in Nome, Alaska during the Annual Reindeer Herders Association meeting. In this interview, Fred talks about his family history with reindeer herding, use of dog teams versus snowmachines for herding, the 1930's crash of reindeer, his father's decision to start herding again, and the Bureau of Indian Affair's role in bringing reindeer back to the Seward Peninsula in the 1950's. He also talks about the caribou crisis, losing his herd, and the economics of herding. |
| Roger Menadelook | 2000-102-26 | Reindeer Herding: The Present and the Past |
Roger Menadelook was interviewed on March 24, 2003 by Bill Schneider, Knut Kielland, and Kumi Rattenbury at Roger's house in Teller, Alaska. Roger previously had identified some photographs from his father's and grandfather's time as reindeer herders. In this interview, Roger talks about snow depth and snowmachine travel, use of radio collars, and his family's heritage in reindeer herding. |
| Leonard Olanna | 2000-102-25 | Reindeer Herding: The Present and the Past |
Leonard Olanna was interviewed on March 24, 2003 by Bill Schneider, Knut Kielland, and Kumi Rattenbury at Leonard's home in Brevig Mission, Alaska. It was a difficult time for Leonard because he had received word that two relatives had just passed away. Nevertheless, he agreed to go ahead with the interview and then drove the group by snowmachine over to Teller. In this interview, Leonard talks about his family's heritage in reindeer herding, how he got into herding, and the effects of weather on the reindeer and their range. He also talks about the influx of caribou, the effect of wolf predation on his herds, and how he uses radio collars to track his reindeer. |
| Donald Olson | 2000-102-30 | Reindeer Herding: The Present and the Past |
Donald "Donny" Olson was interviewed n August 7, 2003 by Bill Schneider and Kumi Rattenbury at the Reindeer Herder's House in Nome, Alaska. In this interview, Donny talks about his family's history with reindeer herding, his involvement in the reindeer industry, and his use of helicopters for herding. He also talks about effects of environmental change on the reindeer herds and herding practices, the impact of wild caribou and predators on the herds, and offers his perspectives on the current situation with reindeer herding on the Seward Peninsula. |
| Palmer Sagoonick | 2000-102-32 | Reindeer Herding: The Present and the Past |
Palmer Sagoonick was interviewed on August 7, 2003 by William Schneider and Kumi Rattenbury at the Reindeer Herder's House in Nome, Alaska. Palmer lives in Shaktoolik, Alaska, but took a break from his crab boat to come into Nome for this interview. In this interview, Palmer talks about his family's history of reindeer herding, dealing with the loss of a herd, and the effects of climate change on the reindeer herds and herding. |
| Herman Toolie | 2000-102-28 | Reindeer Herding: The Present and the Past |
Herman Toolie was interviewed on March 26, 2003 by Bill Schneider and Kumi Rattenbury at the Reindeer Herder's House in Nome, Alaska. Herman is from the village of Savoonga on St. Lawrence Island, Alaska and was in Nome for the Reindeer Herders Association annual meeting. We were particularly eager to interview Herman because he is an island herder and we expected that the ecology of herding would be quite different from the mainland. We were surprised to hear about the recent presence of wolves on the island. In this interview, Herman talks about his family's history of reindeer herding, the effect of weather on the reindeer herds and herding, and the challenges of herding on the island and traveling in different seasons to different places. He also talks about "the great die off," which refers to a time when rain and icing conditions made it hard for deer to get food and many starved. |