by Mary George
Tiffany and White Girl Lead the Way.
Schouviller Wassillie Jr. glided into the finish line on Saturday January 27, in the late afternoon, winner of the Akiak Dash. Son of Brenda (George) and Schouviller Wassillie Sr. of Akiachak, Schouviller Jr. won the sixty-five mile Dash in four hours and fifty-two minutes, winning five thousand, five hundred dollars. His parents and relatives greeted him home underneath the Kusko 300 banner on a cold and icy, sunny Kuskokwim day.
With his team of eight dogs, led by leaders Tiffany and White Girl, Schouviller knelt for the local cameras and press to honor his success. Champion and rookie, Schouviller wore his fox malaggaayaq, (light like the musher) sewn by Brenda’s late grandmother, Sassa Andrews, as he held tightly to his leaders. His stoic look matched the seriousness of the win, as his father stood next to him gleaming with happiness.
This young boy has a slight figure. He is very light. As he mushed, he stroked a ski-pole, which shone brightly in the sun, and fans could see him kicking his way forward.
Periodically, he would look back to see his contender, Mike Williams Jr. of Akiak, behind him. As Mike gained on him Schouviller sped onwards into “No Man’s Land”, the place of safety along the river where no musher could pass him.
Schouviller is a tenth grade, sixteen year-old student at Akiachak High School. He is the grandson of Ina and Daniel George and Tom K. and Lucy Wassillie, son of Brenda (George) Wassillie and Schouviller Wassillie Sr., long-time Kuskokwim musher.
Schouviller has been around dogs his whole life. The joy of his win excites the entire community of Akiachak.
