Breaking Trail in Barrow for Whaling !! (Bethel, Newtok: 2009, new home, safer)

[JessE86]

Whoosh ... ... we are gone !! out to the ice. The lead began to open, the wind shifted, we have left. I know you are all anxious to get back out there, and see what is going on, camp is being set up now, It is supposed to get colder by Wednesday of this week.



Zoom in - 420 mm - wow !!



See you all very soon, with more photographs !!

[JessE86]

It is way too hot, the captain said, if this keeps up, we will not go whaling, the ice is very thin at the lead opening as in inches not feet. Cold weather is expected Wednesday, i'm told. time will tell.















Whaling in Barrow is much different than whaling in Point Hope.

In Barrow the women stay home and do the cooking, food is brought out to the crews. In Barrow the tent is at the lead, and it is just for the hunters.

In Point Hope, women break trail also, women are on the ice at all times in the tents - cooking, the hunters sleep outside with no tents.

There are many other differences also - as we move along in the hunt I will point these differences out. Point Hope is the only village that still does everything in the traditional manner.

[GrammasCabin]

Jess, this thread is the best read on my whole computer! It sounds like things are not looking good. I keep you all in my thoughts, stay safe.

[JessE86]

Monday evening @ 7:00 p.m. finally we are transporting the umiaq and other supplies out to the camp site, many miles out on the ocean ice pack, which is rapidly melting !!






See you soon, with more photographs and good news !!

[blueflames50]

Jessie...what is the outcome if you cannot go whale hunting??? what happens to the village and what do they do for food??? very sad situation indeed.

[warptman]

They go to the AC Store.

[Barkingowl]

Originally Posted by warptman

They go to the AC Store.

Or they order pizza I guess.

[JessE86]

What happens ? they will catch whales, no matter how much work is involved or whatever it takes. It is just going to be very messy and wet out there.

It takes one year, to get 'ready'. to go whaling.. .. (which ends in mid-end of May) then repairs are made to the equipment that was used. June - July is hunting for new skins, walrus, seals, Fall time is for fishing and caribou hunting ( birds & eggs) & to stock up on food for the coming winter. The entire lifestyle revolves around the Bowhead whale.

Unless you are intimately involved in the daily lifestyle of these people, you would never make that association.

Yes there is an AC in this village, and a few other stores around Barrow. AC is too expensive, ACTP is a much better buy for your money. Arctic Coast Trading Post. Personally I have 10 cases of each product we use sent up through Wall-Mart - through the mail - C.O.D. ! We are all stocked up to the max ! (just in case - we have the cases). Being prepared for the 'worst-case' ! I can feel.. .. something catastrophic is about to happen !! .. .. 'a short time.. .. well tell !

[Barkingowl]

Well whatever happens I hope it spares The People.

[JessE86]

Well, one thing I notice about just about every Inupiaq household I enter or have entered in almost every village. There is always an open bible nearby. The bible is extremely speciific with thousands of details about what will happen when Jerusalem is divided ! WATCH OUT, it just recently happend !! Swine flu ? that is nothing.. .. compared to what is about to happen !