In Utqiaġvik, snerts is one of the most popular games in town. Die-hard enthusiasts play on a regular basis, and there’s even an annual spring tournament.
Ravenna Koenig, Alaska's Energy Desk
To get a count on bowhead whales, North Slope scientists head out onto the sea ice
“They’re just so graceful and beautiful. Every time I see a whale I get excited,” says biologist Craig George. “I’ve seen thousands and thousands. It’s always like seeing a bowhead for the first time.”
In Utqiaġvik, learning about climate change includes studying your backyard
“They get the traditional, ecological perspective on sea ice and how it’s changing and shifting from the whaling crews and whaling captains,” teacher Kevin Neyhard said. “And then … we drill cores through the ice to learn about it from that perspective.”
In Utqiaġvik, temperatures are warmer, and the ice is changing. What does that mean for whalers?
“I think it was a little more stable, and there was a little bit more assurance that the ice you were on was not going to disintegrate on you that easy,” says whaling captain Gordon Brower.
Marie Adams Carroll became a ‘folk hero’ fighting for Iñupiat whaling rights. Now she’s in the Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame.
Asking around about Marie Adams Carroll in Utqiaġvik, it’s clear that the things she’s done on the North Slope will be remembered long after she retires.
Meet Alice Qannik Glenn, the podcaster who’s trying to get more young Alaska Native voices on the mic
With her podcast “Coffee & Quaq,” Glenn wants to spotlight the ideas and conversations of young Alaska Native people and broaden the range of stories that are told about Indigenous experiences.