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Unalaska is now the sixth community to construct a niĝilax̂ — the large, Unangax̂ skin boat lost to history for two centuries. The completed wooden frame sits outside of the Unalaska City School District woodshop, where it waits for finishing touches.
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In this episode of “Island Interview,” Anfesia Tutiakoff, Marc Daniels and Mike Ferguson discuss two boat builds in Unalaska and upcoming programs.
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The traditional design of the large skin-on-frame vessel used by the Unangax̂ people was thought to be lost after Russian colonizers destroyed the last remaining examples in the 1800s, according to historic journals. But after decades of work, the design has been restored.
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It’s been about 200 years since Russian colonizers demolished the last remaining examples of large Unangax̂ boats called niĝilax̂. The wooden framed boats were used in the Aleutian Islands to transport goods and people. Now, a group of boat builders have resurrected the niĝilax̂ and returned the practice of making them to the Unangax̂ people.
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After 200 years of obscurity, the niĝilax̂ has returned. Four communities have built the traditional boat this year, after studying historical documents, sketches, and artifacts to learn how they were made.
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Dozens of people gathered in northern California last month to help tie lashings on an Unangax̂ open skin boat. Marc Daniels facilitated the build in his workshop, with the participation of Unangax̂ and local California tribal members. The vessel will be launched May 27, during the Alaska Native Day celebration at Fort Ross.
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A niĝilax̂-building workshop that started last month in Ferndale, California, is on track to finish a traditional Unangax̂ boat by the end of March.
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Marc Daniels, who's been building and restoring traditional skin-on-frame sea kayaks for decades, is leading a niĝilax̂ build in Northern California, along with KUCB’s Kanesia McGlashan-Price who is apprenticing and documenting the process.