Alaska is the middle of the universe. No less than it’s to James Dommek Jr., who hosts a podcast of the identical identify.
Within the new podcast, on the streaming service Audible, Dommek traveled across the state to gather tales from varied Alaska Native cultures, coping with mysterious creatures, folklore and traditions.
Dommek says the concept behind calling the podcast “Alaska is the Heart of the Universe” comes from the notion that, whereas many view Alaska as a remaining vacation spot, for its Indigenous individuals, it’s the place life begins.
Hear:
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This interview has been frivolously edited for readability.
James Dommek Jr.: Alaska is referred to by outsiders as “The Final Frontier.” It represents the wild, the wilderness, the unknown. However to Alaska Natives, it’s not a frontier. It’s residence, and has been residence for a very long time. And so we’re snug on this wild. It’s not a frontier and a wilderness to us, it’s residence. And to us, it’s the middle of our universe. And I took the identify from an Unangax̂ — or generally Aleut — story.
Their creation story entails these two furry beings that fall from the sky they usually land on one of many islands down within the Aleutians, and the seashore grass breaks their fall. And these are the primary individuals of their creation tales which have been handed down from who is aware of how lengthy. So far as they’re involved, that is the middle of the universe. And I took that and I needed to make use of that as a result of you realize, the phrase “Alaska” is an Unangax̂ identify. Our state is known as after one in every of their phrases. So I used to be like, I’ll identify this after one in every of their tales.
Wesley Early: So episode one offers with the Furry Males, or inuqpisuaq. It’s described as rather a lot like Bigfoot or Sasquatch and lives up north in Utqiagvik. You’re Iñupiaq and also you grew up in Kotzebue. What was it wish to primarily seek for affirmation of tales I think about you’ve heard for a very long time?
JD: It was actually fascinating. You understand, Utqiagvik is a bit of bit larger than Kotzebue. However it was actually fascinating to speak to somebody who I knew was only a very seasoned hunter, is aware of the distinction between a variety of issues on the market. And simply to listen to, you realize, them speaking about issues they’ll’t actually clarify. I imply, the phrase itself, “inuqpisuaq”, if you happen to break it down in our language, “inuq” means individual and “pisuk” means stroll. So if you happen to flip it round, it means “walks like an individual.” Why would they name one thing that, you realize? If it was an animal, they’d have referred to as it the identify for it. They wouldn’t name it, “that one’s identify is ‘walks like an individual.’” What does that imply, you realize?
So I needed to see what, you realize, these elders needed to say. I needed to listen to what these hunters… simply to listen to them inform their experiences out in the true wild, within the true wilderness. And so, they by no means had microphones in entrance of them. And a variety of them felt actually relieved to sort of speak about it, and have somebody all for it.
WE: As the kind of one who cares a lot about these tales, and places a variety of inventory within the significance of storytelling, do a few of these sound extra cheap than, you realize, it’s only a fantasy?
JD: Properly, you realize, I’m the good grandson of one of many final nice Iñupiaq storytellers. And I’m born and raised in Kotzebue, and he was from Noatak. And I grew up learning his tales and realizing that, inside all these historical tales which have been handed on, there’s normally a sliver of fact in there someplace. And I needed to take these tales out and take them and have a look at them and discover “the place’s the sliver?” A few of them could possibly be, you realize.
I imply, speaking to those hunters who spent a variety of time approach out in the midst of nowhere, locations most Alaskans gained’t ever, ever set foot. And to listen to them, you realize, speak about their actuality and their expertise, and what they’ve seen… who am I? I can’t decide their actuality. I’m simply right here to listen to their story and simply be captivated by it. And also you simply attempt to assist share it. However I imply, I’ve at all times liked tales of the unknown. Alaska is an enormous, wild place. It’s a really magical, mystical place even to at the present time, and I feel it at all times has been. And our tales replicate that.
Alaska is the Heart of the Universe is on the market solely on Audible.
