Olinka "Laviissi" George

Olinka Vendella Laviissi (Ivanoff) George is Yup'ik and was born on October 21, 1932 to Sophie Nastasia (Chase) Ivanoff in Nunacuaq, Alaska. After the village was abandoned, she grew up in the new nearby village of Nunaptichak with her mother and stepfather, Misha Ivanoff, and is where she attended school. Olinka moved to Akiachak when she married Lott George, and together they raised six children. She learned to sew skins when she was young and became an expert craftswoman who was well known for her Yup'ik style squirrel or muskrat fur parkas. Lott and Olinka were lay pastors for the Alaska Moravian Church during their earlier years and served in Tuluksak, Napakiak, and Akiachak, and Olinka served on the Advisory School Board for the Bureau of Indian Affairs school when the Akiachak School had a Primary Yup'ik Program in the early 1970's. Olinka enjoyed getting involved in the schools as a speaker, teaching traditional skills and telling stories, and talking to the students about Yup’ik values. She also commercial fished on the Kuskokwim River from 1962 to 1973.

Biography written by Sophie Kasayulie of the Yupiit School District.