Inupiaq: The language I can write and speak, but don't understand
My mother grew up in a house where her parents spoke Inupiaq to each other. I grew up in a house where only English was used. And because of that, I was excluded.
rural alaska
The pros and cons of life in Alaska's 'semi-bush'
In the Alaska "semi-Bush," a bear or two occasionally wanders into town in autumn, but the town dogs nearly always run them off.
Feds announce a new project to count eider population poisoned by shot
The Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge holds important habitat for spectacled eiders and will be the location of much of the work.
Zirkle, King and all of Nulato try to move past terrible memories of Iditarod attack
A year ago, a drunken snowmachiner harassed both Iditarod mushers, killing one dog and injuring others.
Chuck and the Lake Clark mystery reef
Few people are more observant than my neighbor up the lake, so how is it he didn't notice those rocks in our bay?
Fabulous photos lift account of early 20th-century Alaska village life
The account of an Inupiat teacher's life is fascinating enough, but the photos make it remarkable.
Bethel readies itself for the cultural explosion of Cama-i Dance Festival
Cama-i Dance Festival in Bethel starts March 31, and about 20 groups from across Alaska and the globe are set to dance, sing or drum.
Caribou bag limit for burgeoning Nelchina herd doubled
With the Alaska herd numbering at least 50,000 animals, some state biologists are worried the caribou may overgraze their range.
For musher Ketil Reitan, the Iditarod is just one adventure in a life full of them
The Norwegian musher, who now lives in Kaktovik, keeps cross-cultural family traditions alive with long-distance Arctic expeditions.
Finding comfort in community in Haines
The old-timers say bad things happen in threes. I am not sure if this is true, but I do believe that bad doings bring out the best in people. It’s not that misery loves company, exactly, rather that suffering binds us together.
Seeking Mr. Right in rural Alaska
When it became time for me to see this man face to face, we realized one sobering truth about rural Alaska dating. “You literally live $1,000 away,” he said — three flights and a day and a half of travel.
As Alaska struggles to fill VPSO ranks, the officers remain unarmed for now
There's no law enforcement in America quite like Alaska's village public safety officers. They provide vital security, but their numbers are dropping.
Memoir delivers engaging account of bringing phones to rural Alaska villages
In "Finding Alaska's Villages: And Connecting Them," author Alex Hills of Palmer traces the introduction of phones to small communities lacking the big base of consumers that telecommunication companies sought.
Taking aim: Airdrops in Bush Alaska not always spot-on
Air drops have practical — even lifesaving — aspects when emergency gear like sleeping bags, clothing, medical supplies, radios and food are dropped to needy people on land and sea.
Mine prospect near Nome could help make batteries for laptops and cars
The graphite deposit in Northwest Alaska is considered to be one of the world's largest.
Peeping Toms of Tenakee Inlet
Our outhouse is open to water on one side. But the boats that chug, sail, paddle and float past are too far away to see anything. Right?
ASNA on track to open new housing in Utqiagvik by summer
Eight duplexes are being constructed this winter near the Samuel Simmonds Memorial Hospital to help house hospital employees.
For a solitary winter fisherman, otters are the competition
Every two to four days, John Parka snowmachines out to the ice near where the Aniak and Kuskokwim rivers meet to check his setnet.
With 3rd straight win, Kaiser remains King of the Kusko
Bethel's hometown hero held off Brent Sass of Eureka and YK mushing pal, Richie Diehl of Aniak, to claim the top prize of $25,000. They all endured wind chills of minus 50 on the final stretch.
Photos: Alaskans out in full force for Women's March events
From Anchorage to Bethel, Juneau to Adak, the westernmost city in the U.S., Alaskans gathered as part of the Women's March movement.