Pictures of Barrow Nalukataq (Blanket Toss) -- June 26, 2008 (Fairbanks, Kotzebue: health, house)

[Floyd_Davidson]

[warptman]

Once again, great shots!

[HighlandLady]

I agree...amazing images, Floyd!

[allforcats]

Floyd, thank you! I see Warren is still presiding. The happiness is wonderful to see, and you captured it so well! And thank you also for dating the ice floes. Wonderful!

[Floyd_Davidson]

Originally Posted by allforcats

Floyd, thank you! I see Warren is still presiding. The happiness is wonderful to see, and you captured it so well! And thank you also for dating the ice floes. Wonderful!

Heh heh, it was not an accident or quirk of fate that made it so that a picture of Warren Matumeak was selected! :-) I took a dozen or so shots of him to make sure that I got one that I liked. That one, with Warren framed by his community, all with heads bowed as Warren gives spiritual and philisophical guidance... was just perfect from my perspective.

He is a real character. He gave the blessing before food was served, and then sang a hymn! He's no Frank Sinatra, but for an 80 year old he didn't sound bad at all. He also did all of that in English rather than Inupiaq, which I thought was astounding. He is very conscious of his audience, and for that one small part of the event he did infact include every tourist, visitor, etc. who was present.

Warren is a great guy, and he's just fabulous to sit and talk to. He's still very much a techie sort. BASC puts on an Outreach Program where visiting scientists give presentations describing what they are doing, and Warren very much enjoys going to them, and talking to them about their projects. (Warren was once head of the North Slope Borough Department of Wildlife.)

[Rance]

Floyd (or anyone else)...do you have any idea what the blanket toss originated from? Has it always been a funtime thing or perhaps a way to get some altitude to see across the tundra or out over the ocean? Just wondering...

[allforcats]

Floyd, fascinating background! Thanks so much. Rance, your mind is fascinating!

[Floyd_Davidson]

Originally Posted by Rance

Floyd (or anyone else)...do you have any idea what the blanket toss originated from? Has it always been a funtime thing or perhaps a way to get some altitude to see across the tundra or out over the ocean? Just wondering...

It's Information Technology!

The typical spring whaling season finds virtually the entire population out on the ice, in camps spaced at intervals along the open lead that forms where the shore ice and the icepack meet. The shore ice is basically stable (frozen to the bottom close to shore) and the icepack moves with the wind and the current.

The need to know the health and welfare status of the next camp in each direction is essential. If they see the lead closing up, and break camp to run for it, that is important information. Likewise if they catch a whale they need help from the entire community to haul it out on the ice and then process it and move the meat back to the village. And of course everyone also needs to keep an eye on the open water at all times, watching for their whale to present itself!

The crew flags are another part of that. When a crew is successful they bring their umiaq back to town, but leave it on the ice at the trail head with the flag flying... an indication on where help is needed.

And at any time or place where a crew is either providing or in need of help, the flag is flown. Right after a whale is caught the Captain will fly the flag from his house, indicating that here is where to come to help. At various celebrations where food is distributed (and in the past other items), the flag is flown to show where to come.

Today of course the blanket toss is merely tradition. But still, most of the people who are really good at jumping will make some effort at looking towards the ocean as they jump. Some will put a hand up to their forehead to shield their eyes to make it obvious they are looking.

When you watch a blanket toss it is easy to tell right at the start who will go up very high. Anyone who adjusts to the blanket by "walking in place", each time the blanket goes up the switch which foot it in front... And then the pullers count...

Reggie Joule, the Kotzebue Legislative Representative for the North Slope and Northwestern Alaska, used to compete in blanket toss events (World Eskimo Indian Olympics, etc), but by about 1980 he started doing only exhibitions, to allow others to win the prizes. Reggie is so good that down in Fairbanks at the Patty Gym on the UAF campus he used to move the ceiling tiles, and then put them back in place on the next jump.

[blue_eyedgirl]

Gorgeous pictures. The mid-air ones are just striking. Thanks for posting.

[Classic Satch]

Hi Floyd! I just have two questions to ask and please don't take offense because I'm honestly just curious.

Why does anyone live in Barrow?

What kind of amenities do you have(high-speed Internet, restaurants, that sort of thing)?

This is just curiosity Floyd, nothing more.