unangax

In this episode of “Island Interviews,” Collections Manager Joselle Hale explains the label project and highlights the crucial role of community input in developing the new multilingual displays. They also discuss how residents can preserve their own family histories by learning museum-style documentation techniques.

St. Paul Island, in the Bering Sea, is home to vast marine ecosystems that have supported the Unangax̂ community for generations. But the island’s most iconic species — the northern fur seal — has been in steep decline for decades. Last fall, the tribe began holding listening events to hear from residents about how to protect the island’s ecosystems from threats such as climate change and overfishing. The eventual goal behind that work is designating the waters around St. Paul Island as an Indigenous marine stewardship area.

Weaving has been part of Unangax̂ heritage for thousands of years, from large baskets to small ornaments. An exhibit at the Museum of the Aleutians in Unalaska shows the art form’s evolution.

The Museum of the Aleutians in Unalaska has received 22 boxes of archaeological artifacts from the Islands of Four Mountains in the central Aleutian Islands. While some may never be displayed, they remain crucial to understanding Unangax̂ history.

In this episode of “Island Interview,” Anfesia Tutiakoff, Marc Daniels and Mike Ferguson discuss two boat builds in Unalaska and upcoming programs.

Michael Livingston is proposing Nazi Creek on Little Kiska Island be renamed to reflect the island’s Unangax̂ name — “Kangchix̂,” which translates to gizzard. The map enthusiast said he’s not certain where the island’s traditional name comes from, but he has some theories.

In this episode of “Island Interviews,” MOTA's Thomas McLenigan and Jenya Anichtchenko shared their thoughts on the fall exhibition and the impact they hope “Family Mosaics” will have on visitors.

Archaeologists found brown and polar bear bones – some over 5,000 years old – at two dig sites on Unalaska and Amaknak Islands in the Aleutians during the early 2000s. Since then, the bones have puzzled scientists. There are no bears on either island today and no historical records of bears ever living there.

KUCB's Hope McKenney sits down for a discussion with the Qawalangin Tribe’s new resilience project manager.

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.