Elders Remembering Allakaket

Julia and Pollock Simon Interview & illustrations
Teacher: Anne Elshazly
Stewart B, Grade 7
Keara E, Grade 7
Nicole B, Grade 7
Simon N, Grade 6

Steven Bergman Interview & illustrations
Teacher: Sarah Bailey
Joy B, Grade 5
Terrance S, Grade 5
Aiyana E, Grade 5
Evan S, Grade 4
Nevaeh C, Grade 4
Shane B, Grade 3
Tristan L, Grade 3
Leah E, Grade 2
Isaiah M, Grade 2
Hazel S, Grade 2

Valerie Bergman Interview & Illustrations
Teacher: David Fields
Nicole B, Grade 7
Stuart B, Grade 7
Keara E, Grade 7
Rhea L, Grade 11
Simon N, Grade 6

Fred Ned Sr. Interview & Illustrations
Teacher: David Fields
Rhea L, Grade 11
Nicole B, Grade 7
Stuart B, Grade 7
Keara E, Grade 7
Simon N, Grade 6

Thanks To
Principal Larry Parker and Superintendent Kerry Boyd for their leadership in making the Allakaket Book Slam possible.

Book Slam Project Management
Steve Nelson, Project Coordinator, Consortium for Digital Learning, Association of Alaska School Boards
Cheryl Bobo, Site Facilitator

© 2019 Yukon-Koyukuk School District

Biography

Julia talks about the meaning of her Denaakk'e name.

Julia went to school in a one room log cabin schoolhouse in Allakaket. Pollock went to a similar school in Hughes. The got married in Allakaket in the Episcopal church near the river in 1968. They both grew up driving sled dogs and sometimes raced them. They both endured the terrible Allakaket flood of the Koyukuk River in 1994. They live in Allakaket to this day.

Julia and Pollack talk about mushing dogs.

Wedding: They got married in the church by the river in 1968.

Flood: The flood happened in 1994. The community was evacuated by helicopter.

One room log cabin school: The kids went to school in a one room log school house near the river.

Dog racing: Julia and Pollock both raced the sled dogs.

Biography

Steven talks about trapping, dog mushing, snow blindness, village economy, and what he did for fun as a kid.

Steven Bergman was born in Allakaket around the year 1950. His mom’s name was Elizabeth. His grandmother did not attend school and only spoke Denaake. Her children had to read and help her sign her name. He lived in fish camp until 1956, when he started school. He did not learn cursive or Western History. His favorite subject was math. When it was lunch time, he would have an hour to go home to get his lunch or to check his trap lines. His favorite sport is basketball. When he was younger he played soccer, but they called it football. He did not attend high school in Allakaket, so he was away from home from the age of 14-19.

He wanted to be a Veterinarian because he really loved working with dogs. He went to the University of Alaska Fairbanks for a few years. When Steven was around 21, he came back to Allakaket and started getting into dog racing. At one time he had about 70 dogs. Today, he has 21 dogs that he still races. He makes sleds and snowshoes. He loves to go trapping. Steven is also a member of the CSC board for Allakaket School. Steven married Gladys, and they had 5 children. His one child, Gordon, is the First Chief of Allakaket.

Biography

Valerie talks about her life as a kid, her family's Spring, Summer and Winter camps, seasonal activities, types of game they hunted and trapped, the village school, how families looked out for each other, beadwork, how elders nurtured kids to take over jobs in the community, seasonal clothing and footwear, and the importance of Culture Camp.

Valerie Bergman was born in Tanana in 1960. Her parents are the late Reverend Joseph Williams, Jr. and the late Rhea Williams. School was very hard for her and she finally learned to read in the fourth grade. Once she learned to read, school became very easy. The teachers that showed her empathy as a child were the most memorable for her. She attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 1990 and 1991, but did not finish her degree. She is working towards her AA degree in Social Work through UAF’s Kuskokwim Campus. Her first job was in around 1981, working for the State of Alaska in the position that is now known as TCC Chore Provider working for an elder couple. She learned their daily routine and through that experience, also learned how to cut fish, tan moose skin while helping the elders with their daily subsistence lifestyle. She has had several other jobs (including Mayor of Allakaket at one point!) She is currently the Behavioral Health Aide for Allakaket. She married her husband on August 31, 1985 and they have five adult children and fourteen grandchildren.

Setting rabbit snares as a child: “Most of the time back when I was little we had to set rabbit snares and check them too.”

Camping with family: “Every family had a spring camp and a summer camp and a winter camp...Dad and them would bring us out until we couldn’t go out no more.”

Mom baking/cooking by river: “My mom used to make the best bread dough and cinnamon rolls. Everybody would love it, they’d know when she would bake.”

Biography

Fred Ned, Sr. was born in Allakaket to the late Simon and Paulina Ned. He is married to Eliza Ned, and they have four children and six grandchildren. He learned how to sing and play guitar at an early age and is always a big part of any successful dance in Allakaket. He designed and built his family’s two-story cabin in Allakaket, one of the nicer houses that weren’t lost in the 1994 flood. Fred is well known as the main operator of the town’s snowplow and has been the agent for Allakaket’s airport for many years. Actually, he is technically retired, but can still be counted on to operate the plow in emergencies. He enjoys riding his ‘snow-go’ and hunting with his kids and grandkids.