The first week after founder's day we decided to do a home movie night! Check out the flyer I put together! John Branson, our park historian had a bunch of old movies from Port Alsworth and Lake Clark from the 1950s and 60s. I was pretty excited to watch them. Years ago we put together home movies from my dad's side of the family, complete with great music. Sad to say, these movies didn't have sound, but we had John to explain what was going on during the film. Our own narrator, just like Morgan Freeman...well, okay maybe not just like him, but pretty darn close! There's wisdom in those words. The people in the movie, the Gill's, were placer miners. Now, you may be asking yourself...what's a placer mine? I didn't know either, don't feel bad. Turns out it's just a fancy term for open-pit mining for minerals. Specifically gold. It was done in rivers, creeks and streams, panning in the same manner as any gold mining. Now you might think, well these folks must've been rich! Nope! Turns out panning for gold really wasn't all that it was cracked up to be. These folks lived a simple life, just getting by. But from their films, they sure looked happy to be out there doing something!
Needless to say, it was pretty fun to watch a movie about what life was like out here during that time period. A little slice of history, and another lesson learned about the area surrounding Lake Clark!
When people walk into the Visitor Center, Yvette always offers to do an informal presentation on how her family does salmon. She is from the area, born and raised in Nondalton, the village closest to the Lake Clark National Park Boundary. She's Dena'ina Athabascan, and thus has a knowledge of her culture that really helps her to be a park interpreter. Her knowledge most stems from what's she's learned over time from her elders, and from growing up in subsistence-based background. So, that was the premise for this presentation. I figured that more people would be interested in her presentation if she could show bigger pictures of what she does!
And, per my request, she whipped up a batch of nivagee, which is essentially Indian Ice Cream. But it's not like the ice cream you and I eat. No sir. Not at all. Traditionally the recipe involves lard, berries, sugar, and fish. It can be eaten cold or warm (yeah, that sounds odd...) and is a treat. What Yvette did though was take the fish out and instead of lard, good old Crisco. It ended up being very, very sweet! Everyone was pretty wary to try it, until she told them there was no fish. I don't think we non-natives are ready for fishy ice cream. I know I wasn't.
Over the last couple weeks of August I learned a lot about life at Lake Clark. Because of the Act Lake Clark was established under (ANILCA - Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act), the people of Lake Clark are allowed to live within their subsistence cultures. They can live here and fish here, but only if they are doing so with subsistence in mind. An interesting dynamic. What is subsistence? It's the ability to maintain oneself at the minimum level. To support yourself with only what is necessary. In the home movies I learned about how people could live simply off the land; they didn't make a lot of money then, but still lived comfortably. In Yvette's salmon presentation I learned how a culture that thrived on the theory of subsistence still lives on today with the same cultural values. As an environmental professional, I love the idea of subsistence. Take only what you need. Live with what you have. It's a great idea, and I hope that when I go home, I'll be able to maintain that mentality. Shouldn't be too hard, I'll be just be starting out again when I head home. No job yet, no money, but with what I have, I'll be able to live off. Look out mom and dad, future couch-surfer heading your way! :)
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