Donald "Don" Callaway

Doug McRae was interviewed on April 10, 2010 by Don Callaway, Rachel Mason, and Karen Brewster at his home in Seward, Alaska. In this interview, Doug talks about growing up in Seward, the 1964 Earthquake, his guiding business, hunting and trapping in the Seward area, changes in wildlife populations, mining, the Fish and Game Advisory Board, and carving. He talks about trapping, hunting, flying, and snowmachining in the Exit Glacier area, remote airstrips, old cabins, the stranded bulldozer up Resurrection River, the road to Exit Glacier, and the negative effects national parks have on hunting.

Gary Zimmerman was interviewed on April 10, 2010 by Don Callaway, Rachel Mason, Karen Brewster, and Shannon Kovac at the Van Gilder Hotel in Seward, Alaska. In this interview, Gary talks about his dad's snowmachine tourist operation, hunting, changes in wildlife populations, and his love of snowmachining, being a responsible snowmachiner, and snowmachine access issues. He talks about snowmachining and hunting in the Exit Glacier area, snowmachining and skiing on the ice field, changes in the glaciers, the road to the glacier, his thoughts about the establishment of Kenai Fjords National Park and use and access issues.

Tom Gillespie was interviewed on April 11, 2010 by Don Callaway, Rachel Mason and Karen Brewster at his home on Bear Lake in Seward, Alaska. In this interview, Tom talks about growing up in the Exit Glacier Road area, logging and sawmills, flooding at Clear Creek and Old Exit Glacier Road, the 1964 Earthquake, changes in wildlife populations, backcountry trails and running routes, the Mount Marathon race, and changes in Seward. He talks about skiing, hiking, climbing, camping, snowmachining, trapping and hunting in the Exit Glacier area, expeditions on the Harding Icefield, and changes in the glacier.

Dan Seavey was interviewed on April 11, 2010 by Don Callaway, Rachel Mason, and Karen Brewster at his home in Seward, Alaska. In this interview, Dan talks about changes in Seward, the 1964 Earthquake, commercial fishing, his dog mushing career, and training and racing sled dogs. He talks about living on a homestead on Old Exit Glacier Road (Seavey's Corner), using horses, hunting and trapping in the Exit Glacier area, the road to the glacier, and local use of the area.

Percy Blatchford was interviewed on April 12, 2010 by Rachel Mason, Don Callaway and Karen Brewster at the Van Gilder Hotel in Seward, Alaska. In this interview, he talks about his childhood, working as a longshoreman, the Native community in Seward and organization of the Qutekcak Tribe, hunting around Seward, changes in wildlife populations, and the 1964 Earthquake. He talks about helping build the Herman Leirer Road to Exit Glacier, especially the blasting work he did, how people have used the area, and how the road affected use.

This is a continuation of the interview with Ellen Demit by Don Callaway and Connie Friend for Mendees Cheeg Naltsiin Keey': An Oral History of the People of Healy Lake Village (annotated and edited by Donald G. Callaway and Constance A. Friend, Revised June 2007). This second interview was conducted on August 16, 2000 in Healy Lake, Alaska. Ellen also gave a speech to her relatives on January 19, 2001 where she tells more about her personal and family history at Healy Lake and Big and Little Gerstle. In this second interview, Ellen talks about the 1927 Potlatch at Healy Lake given by Chief Healy, potlatch preparations, preserving cultural traditions, rules and taboos related to animals, men and women, preparation of traditional foods, and being a strong, self-sufficient woman.

JoAnn Polston was interviewed on August 17, 2000 by Don Callaway and Connie Friend in Healy Lake, Alaska for Mendees Cheeg Naltsiin Keey': An Oral History of the People of Healy Lake Village (annotated and edited by Donald G. Callaway and Constance A. Friend, Revised June 2007). In this interview, JoAnn talks about her memories of her grandmother, Jeany Healy, living at Healy Lake, her work to establish the village council, changes in the community, and the ups and downs of living in rural Alaska.

Fred Kirsteatter was interviewed on August 16, 2000 by Don Callaway and Connie Friend at his home in Healy Lake, Alaska for Mendees Cheeg Naltsiin Keey': An Oral History of the People of Healy Lake Village (annotated and edited by Donald G. Callaway and Constance A. Friend, Revised June 2007). In this interview, Fred talks about growing up in a traditional lifestyle and learning Native ways and values from his mother, getting an education and college degree, and what he accomplished for his village. He emphasizes the importance of getting an education, despite the difficulties and challenges of doing so when coming from a small rural Native community.

Gabby Gregory was interviewed on November 2, 1999 by Don Callaway and Bill Schneider in Kokhanok, Alaska. In this interview, Gabby talks about living a subsistence-based lifestye, including hunting bears, beaver, moose and caribou, fishing and trapping, and changes he has seen in the weather, environment and animal populations. He also talks about changing methods of transportation for access to hunting and trapping, including use of snowmachines and All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV), and local impacts from the establishment of Katmai National Park and Preserve.

Danny Roehl was interviewed on November 1, 1999 by Don Callaway and Bill Schneider in Kokhanok, Alaska. In this interview, Danny talks about operating a lodge, hunting and trapping, and changes he has seen in the wildlife populations, in the types of transportation used, and the impacts from increased guiding and sport hunting activity. He also discusses the arrival of All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV's) to the area, how that has impacted subsistence,  and changes he has seen in the caribou population over time. Finally, Danny talks about changes in the community and the lifestyles of village residents.

Garith Nielsen was interviewed on November 2, 1999 by Don Callaway and Bill Schneider in Kokhanok, Alaska. In this interview, Garith talks about changes in the types of vehicles used for subsistence activities, including snowmachines and all-terrain vehicles (ATV's), and the effect of these changes combined with the establishment of Katmai National Park and Preserve. He also talks about changes he has witnessed in animal populations, especially moose and caribou, and competition between hunters.

Mike and Dallia Andrew were interviewed on March 6, 1995 by Bill Schneider and Don Callaway in Igiugig, Alaska. In this first part of a two part interview, Mike and Dallia talk about their family backgrounds, their childhoods, and learning traditional skills and to speak English. They talk about the seasonal round of subsistence activities from trapping to hunting to fishing, which required quite a bit of seasonal movement, and employment opportunities with reindeer herding, working at a cannery, or commercial fishing. The also talk about gathering wood and the impact of wildfires on the environment. Finally, Mike discusses lack of local health care and the influenza epidemic.

Mike and Dallia Andrew were interviewed on March 7, 1995 by Bill Schneider and Don Callaway in Igiugig, Alaska. In this first part of a two part interview, Mike and Dallia talk about their traditionally based subsistence lifestyle and their fishing, hunting and trapping activities. They also talk about the effect of tundra fires, celebrating holidays, how to properly dispose of animal bones, how to avoid starvation, gender specific roles in subsistence activities, and changes they have seen in wildlife populations. Finally, Mike talks about hunting bear with an axe and following the proper rules about sharing your harvest, and Dallia talks about giving birth and raising a family.

Mike and Dallia Andrew were interviewed on March 8, 1995 by Bill Schneider and Don Callaway in Igiugig, Alaska. In this interview, Mike and Dallia talk about following the traditional beliefs about the proper way to hunt, fish and trap and to treat the animals with respect. They discuss ice fishing and hunting bears and moose. They also talk about how their community has changed,and the importance of teaching the youth about the past by telling them about starvation times and helping them learn subsistence skills and traditional behaviors.

Mary Ann Olympic was interviewed on March 8, 1995 by Bill Schneider and Don Callaway at her home in Igiugig, Alaska. In this interview, Mary discusses her strong personal ties to Kukaklek Lake where she grew up and recalls in Yup'ik and English the names of the places around the lake. She talks about growing up in a traditional subsistence lifestyle where the family moved around seasonally to access resources, and where she learned about reindeer herding, trapping, hunting and fishing. She also talks about the importance of sharing and abiding by traditional cultural practices. Mary also describes raising her family, and running a trapline and working at the school to help support them.

This is the continuation of an interview with Mary Ann Olympic on March 9, 1995 by Bill Schneider and Don Callaway at the school in Igiugig, Alaska. In this second part of a two part interview, Mary talks about the traditional values she was taught about not wasting food and respecting the animals harvested, and about times where there were food shortages and starvation. She also discusses the effect of All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV's) on the activity level of children and community members, and remembers reindeer herding days when they used dogteams to get around and had to keep the reindeer separated from caribou.

Anne and George Wilson, Sr. were interviewed on March 7, 1995 by Bill Schneider and Don Callaway at the Wilson's home in Igiugig, Alaska. In this first part of a three part interview, Anne and George share their personal backgrounds of growing up in the Levelock and Igiugig areas, moving around with the seasons as subsistence hunters and trappers. George talks about his trapping activities and how he first learned to hunt and trap. Anne talks about traveling around with her family, fishing, berry picking, and learning to sew skins.

This is the continuation of an interview with Anne and George Wilson, Sr. on March 7, 1995 by Bill Schneider and Don Callaway at the Wilson's home in Igiugig, Alaska. In this third part of a three part interview, Anne and George talk about the impacts to their lifestyle from having a national park and preserve as their neighbor. They discuss differences between attitudes and hunting practices of local users and sportsmen, the effect of regulation, and changes they have seen in the environment since they were young. They also discuss the effect of using All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV's), and the importance of traditional beliefs, practices and respect for elders.

Alex Tallekpalek was interviewed on May 5, 1998 by William Schneider and Don Callaway at his home in Levelock, Alaska. In this interview, Alex talks about learning to live off the land and how to fish, hunt and trap from his grandfather. He also talks about hunting beluga whales. Alex also discusses changes he has observed in the environment, in animal, bird and fish populations, in the culture, and with the climate, and impacts on subsistence living from the development of sport lodges and the presence of Katmai National Park and Preserve.

Sister and brother, Ella Mae Charley and George Setuk were interviewed on May 5, 1998 by William Schneider and Don Callaway in Levelock, Alaska. In this interview, Ella and George talk about their subsistence lifestyle, and the changes they have observed in methods of transportation, in the environment and wildlife populations, and cultural attitudes toward hunting, trapping and fishing and living off the land. George discusses recovering from a childhood back injury and being out on the trapline in the winter with a dogteam and wroking as a commerical fisherman in Bristol Bay in the summertime. Ella talks about various seasonal subsistence activities and how they traveled to find the resources they needed. They also both talk about how their subsistence lifestyle has changed and been impacted by the establishment of Katmai National Park and an increase in sport fishermen and hunters coming to the area. They also discuss changes they are concerned about in the community, the Native culture and traditional practices.