The Storytellers

Since living in Alaska, we have enjoyed countless hours listening to Alaskans tell their stories of what brought them here, what makes them stay or what may drive them away. Many of the stories are as large as the state and as colorful as the Northern Lights. Some of the stories are just unbelievable and the people are unforgettable. This is a state of diverse people living diverse lives; from Alaskan natives to gold miners, from fisherman to dog mushers, from mountain climbers to farmers, and so on.
This is the goal of Alaskan Life Portraits and Stories; to take an audio snapshop and share with you some of those unforgettable pioneers living
life in the Last Frontier!

<> "Because the Inuit knew to sweat was to die."
Jim Stanford

"When we refer to Klukwan it is know as
the Mother Village. The village that always was."
Raymond Dennis

Ray is an Alaskan Native of the Tlingit Clan. He lives in the only existing Clan House in Haines. Raymond chose to leave a high paying job in Anchorage and move his family back to Haines to claim his birthright and cultural heritage.
On Track Two, Raymond discusses Tlingit culture, spirituality, racism, and the history
of his people in the Chilkat Valley.

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"You have a family, you just got settled,
why do you want to go to Alaska?

..I wish I could!"

Ray and Vivian Meneker

Ray and Vivian Menaker have lived in Haines for over 45 years.
On Track Three, they recall their adventure of getting to Haines which took six weeks. They moved their family and careers as school teachers to
the remote fishing village of Pelican.
After spending a year there, teaching in a one room school house, an opportunity became available to teach at a larger school with a great music program. The Menakers then moved to Haines. This piece is the first of many about Ray and Vivian's long and fascinating life.

"The wild essence of our world, our rain forests, our earth, is

gasping for its life.
Steve Kroschel

"FISHING TALES"

This CD features seven Alaskans
who reveal what fishing in Alaska waters is really like. Fishing in Alaska is a life altering experience-a way of life. There are so many dangers, so many things that can go wrong, that one wonders why anyone would set foot off shore.
Imagine being on a boat in constant motion, working with sharp knives and hooks sturdy enough to bring up a 300 pound fish! You eat, sleep, go to the bathroom, live for extended periods of time on a tiny floating island. Your whole world and everything you need to survive is on the boat. If something breaks, you have to fix it with what you have on board or radio someone and wait for assistance to arrive. If someone gets sick or injured you have to deal with it until help arrives which could take several hours or even days depending on the weather. If a storm hits you have to endure whatever it brings your way until it's over. When the fish are running, you work day and night until you get your limit.
The act of fishing has always been the same since man first discovered he catch and eat fish but, the methods of catching fish have changed-dramaticly.
Centuries ago native Alaskans depended on fishing for their survival. Over the centuries they have orally passed down their accumulated knowledge and wisdom. Not only how to catch and process the fish but, to ensure that the fish stock stays healthy so they would return year after year.

TO ORDER THE "FISHING TALES" CD

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? GET IN TOUCH WITH US AT:
INSIGHT PASSAGE PRODUCTIONS
HC 60 BOX 2616
HAINES, ALASKA 99827
907-767-5433 settlein@aptalaska.net