‘No Regrets’

Man in Army uniform holds photo in front of American flag and wood-paneled wall

Paul Simon Bekoalok of Shaktoolik served 28 years with the Alaska Army National Guard, including multiple tours in Kuwait and Iraq. He was honorably discharged in 2009 after injuries suffered overseas. He has no regrets, he says.

Read More

A ‘Summit’ for Reindeer

Woman in camouflage jacket stands on grassy tundra next to huddle of children.

Earlier this summer, Ann and Bruce Davis hosted a “summit” introducing local youth to their distinctively Western Alaska line of work: reindeer herding at their Midnite Sun Reindeer Ranch.

Read More

Time in a Bottle

Man in green kuspuk holds green bottle while standing on beach on cloudy day

When Tyler Ivanoff and a few friends strolled along the shore near Shishmaref on August 5, they were looking for firewood and picking berries. What Ivanoff found, instead, was a half-century-old message in a bottle that had washed up after a long, long journey from the opposite side of the Pacific Ocean.

Read More

A Golden City

Sunset landscape of gold dredge in small pond in rural Alaska town

Massive gold dredges dot the Nome landscape. The long-dormant structures have become curiosities and tourist attractions.

Read More