Project Jukebox

Digital Branch of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Oral History Program

Project Jukebox Survey

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

Etta Fournier

Etta Fournier

Etta Fournier is Iñupiaq from Utqiaġvik, Alaska (formerly Barrow) and is the daughter of Jennie and Herbert Ahkivgak. She grew up in a traditional subsistence lifestyle based upon whaling, hunting, fishing and trapping, and her father, grandfather and uncles were successful whaling captains. Etta is a fluent Iñupiaq speaker and language expert and has worked as an Iñupiaq translator and educator for the North Slope Borough School District and Ilisaġvik College. She is currently an assistant professor in Iñupiaq Studies at Ilisaġvik College in Utqiaġvik.
Etta Fournier appears in the following new Jukebox projects:

As Translator

Interview Title Archive #: Oral History Project Abstract Translator
Jennie Ahkivgak 2009-04 Dalton Highway

Jennie Ahkivgak was interviewed on February 12, 2009 by Karen Brewster at Jennie's home in Utqaiġvik, Alaska (formerly Barrow). Jennie's daughter, Etta Fournier, translated between English and Iñupiaq. In this interview, Jennie talks about growing up around Qalġusiḷik, Sagavanirktok River, Napaqsralik (Cross Island) and Tigvaġiaq Island off the Beufort Sea coast, and in the area around what is now known as Prudhoe Bay, and living a traditional subsistence lifestyle where they moved to various locations depending on the season. She mentions her father's ice cellar, other families living in the area, places they traveled to, and what the area was like before oil development. She also talks about owning a Native allotment in the Prudhoe Bay area and what happened to it after the establishment of oil production facilities.

 Etta Fournier