by Peter Twitchell
Long before I came into the world how were people of Southwest Alaska, the Yupiaq? We’re blessed with the beautiful tundra that provided berries, our sloughs and rivers, we’re full of fish – blackfish we called can’giit, pike, salmon, lush fish or burbot, needlefish. These foods from our waters gave our people strength and longevity.
When the time came and I was married, my wife and I were blessed with two boys and a daughter. Instructions to love each other, to care for each other, to protect each other were passed down to our children. Also the importance of being self-sufficient, to work hard, to study to learn and make a good living for themselves.
To love ourselves as human beings and to love others was passed down from our Ancients and our Parents to be carried on by our children.
Our children grow up to love, to respect each other, to honor each other and to make sure that their needs are met. This tradition is carried on through our entire lives. These traditions and practices are carried on through our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
We shared with our children the importance of caring for our land, the tundra, and not to trash it. To respect it as it provides for all of us all our lives.
My boys loved to hunt with me. We camped on the tundra and kept our land pristine when we left it. Those were good times being out together laughing, living off the land Creator God gave us more than we needed. There were many happy moments when we shared stories and laughed.
These happy moments and memories we shared stay with us throughout our lives and sustains us, and encouraged us to carry on the traditions of our ancestors.
I also adopted a baby girl three days old and I gave her the name Suzi. She plays in the Anchorage Orchestra, and also in the Fair Weather Flutes and Community Band in Anchorage. She took piano lessons at five years of age.
She was sent to Switzerland by one of the top music institutions. I am very proud of her accomplishments and music. I applaud her for applying herself to something I love – music! She and her husband Robert gave me two grandchildren. She’s proven to be a music success and I’m proud of her.
