A successful polar bear hunt north of Nome this week sparked celebration among King Island descendants. Jared Wiggins harvested the bear while camping near Cape Woolley, about 40 miles west of Nome, with help from relatives who say the hunt was challenging but deeply meaningful.
Wiggins’ aunt, Caroline Brown, said the bear wasn’t easy to catch.
“They end up getting it, shooting it. And it wasn't the first shot that got it, but his cousin Jeff was two extra shots that got him down,” Brown said.
She said for King Islanders like herself, the successful hunt goes beyond claiming the animal’s warm fur and decorative teeth and claws.
“It's a big celebration where we gather, we have a potluck, and we have Eskimo dance, and there's a gift giving that we do,” Brown said.
Brown said the last time her tribe caught a polar bear was in 1987. Raymond Paniataaq is the last of four hunters from that expedition still alive today. As a child, Paniataaq went to boarding school in the lower 48. He said when he moved back to Alaska, he had to learn his tribe's subsistence way of life.
“Did all the grunt work, you know, like the young boys. Learn how to cut and watch the men, assist the men on how to butcher walrus, or ugruk, and seals and did all the grunt work,” Paniataaq said.
Paniataaq said for his family, catching a polar bear is a rare and special moment.
“I feel excited. Good to see something like that. It's almost been a long time since we done it, about 30 something years,” Paniataaq said.
Ben Jack, originally from Stebbins and of Yup’ik descent, was called in to help stretch the hide. He said his father taught him how to process seal hides, but this was his first polar bear.
“It was already butchered, so then I asked Miss Caroline [Brown] to grab some salt, and then we got the salt all over on the first side, the salt will absorb any of the moisture,” Jack explained as he tended to the hide.
During the workday, Jack works at Norton Sound Health Corporation’s Behavioral Health Services department. There, he teaches residents of the region how to carve ivory and other traditional practices. He said he was thankful he got the call to help out.
“I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to be invited to do stuff like this. You know that I'm not from their tribe, but then Alaska is well knitted,” Jack said.
Brown said a potluck is being planned for July 8 at King Island Hall in Nome. She invited the community to bring a dish and join in for the special occasion.
