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Alice Demientieff

Alice Withrow Demientieff is an elder who was born in 1932 on the Nushagak River near Dillingham, Alaska. She grew up living a subsistence lifestyle with her Native mother and non-Native father. Her mother passed away from tuberculosis and her father got a job as a radio operator in the Aleutian Islands during World War II and couldn't take care of his children, so in 1941, at the age of nine, Alice was sent to the Holy Cross Mission to attend school. She learned to read, write, knit, sew, cook, do household chores, and how to work hard. In 1950, Alice married Luke Demientieff and together they raised a large family. She enjoyed being out in the country, so she often accompanied Luke on his travels on the trapline and for hunting and fishing. She is an expert gardener and cook, and is especially fond of spending time at their cabin on Reindeer Lake. For more about Luke and Alice Demientieff see their 2017 interview for the Legacy of our Elders video series produced by Tanana Chiefs Conference.

Date of Birth:

Aug 19, 1932

Alice Demientieff appears in the following new Jukebox projects:

Holy Cross Community Project

Luke and Alice Demientieff's Slideshow

Interview Title	Abstract	Archive #: Oral History	Project	Date of Interview
Luke and Alice Demientieff, Part 1	Luke and Alice Demientieff were interviewed on April 17, 2002 by their granddaughter Tess Paul, her husband Eugene Paul who is the village chief, and Karen Brewster from the University of Alaska Fairbanks Oral History Program at the Demientieff's home in Holy Cross, Alaska. In this first part of a two part interview, Luke and Alice talk about their lives, his work in construction and as a carpenter, attending the Mission school, raising a family, running a business, their extensive subsistence fishing, trapping, and hunting, and spending time at their Reindeer Lake cabin. Luke discusses what you need to know to survive out in the country at different times of year, and tells many stories about his travels and adventures. Alice talks about going to school at the Holy Cross Mission, learning to knit and sew, and what daily life was like at the Mission. She also discusses traveling with Luke on the trapline and for other hunting and fishing, traditional subsistence activities and food preparation, raising a family, and gardening. At the end of the interview, Luke and Alice describe photographs that they selected from their personal collection which they felt represented their lives. The photographs add another layer to understanding Luke and Alice's lives and the history of Holy Cross.	2002-10-02_PT.1	Holy Cross Community Project	Apr 17, 2002
Luke and Alice Demientieff, Part 2	This is the continuation of an interview with Luke and Alice Demientieff on April 17, 2002 by their granddaughter Tessie Paul, her husband Eugene Paul who is the village chief, and Karen Brewster from the University of Alaska Fairbanks Oral History Program at the Demientieff's home in Holy Cross, Alaska. In this second part of a two part interview, Luke and Alice continue to talk about their hunting, trapping and fishing activities, experiences they had out on the trail and at their cabin, and interactions they had with specific animals. They also talk about how village life and Native traditions have changed, differences in healthcare and employment, and environmental changes they have observed. Finally, they discuss things from their personal lives, such as scariest moments, what they are most proud of, disappointments, and the challenges of moving and living in Bethel, Alaska.	2002-10-02_PT.2	Holy Cross Community Project	Apr 17, 2002