Dr. Laurie Meijer Drees teaches in the First Nations Studies Department at Vancouver Island University. This presentation is based on her research. Her new book, ‘Healing History: Stories of Canada’s Indian Hospital System’ features this work. Her talk was a part of 2010 Alaska Native/Native American Heritage Month and Canada Week at UAA.

This podcast was recorded on Nov. 3, 2010.

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Vancouver Island University

Department of First Nations Studies

Canadian Broadcasting Company

Prof. Meijer Dress in the Canadian news

With the assistance of the U.S. National Archives, the U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command and the United States Marine Corps History Division, as well as several smaller archival sources in Connecticut, Florida, Texas, American Samoa, Wallis Island and Tarawa, writer Jeremy Edward Shiok has been able to establish the wartime itinerary of his grandfather, Edward W. Shiok (1924-1988), which Jeremy traveled in 2010.

The route retraced the V Amphibious Corps, 8th Defense Battalion, from Pago Pago (American Samoa) to Wallis and Futuna (French Overseas Territory), Funafuti (Tuvalu) and finally Tarawa and the outer atoll of Abemama (Republic of Kiribati).

In each location Shiok met with local historians and cultural leaders in an attempt to absorb the atmosphere of the native culture and environment, to understand what effects American military actions had on local populations and to hear contemporary concerns for the future.

A writer, editor and publisher, Jeremy Edward Shiok has lived in Alaska since 2000. He received his Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Alaska Anchorage in 2003 and has taught in the CWLA Dept at UAA. He is publisher and editor of the literary journal ‘Two Review.’ This event was held in honor of Veterans Day.

This podcast was recorded on Nov. 11, 2010.

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Dr. Nancy Furlow, interim director of the UAA Alaska Native Studies program, wrote her doctoral thesis on the Angoon Bombardment after pursuing her research at the University of California at Santa Barbara. Her talk was a part of Alaska Native/Native American Heritage Month at UAA.

This podcast was recorded on Nov. 10, 2010 at the UAA Campus Bookstore.

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UAA Alaska Native Studies

Website for Alaska Native Studies

Sarah Hurst and three illustrators describe their work on the graphic novel. The artists were Lee Post, Shanley McCauley and Dimi Macheras. They talked about the book, and their personal paths and styles as artists.

This event was held in celebration of Alaska Native American Heritage Month. Sponsors include Share the Spirit, UAA ANAIHM Committee, UAA Diversity Action Council and the UAA Campus Bookstore.

This podcast was recorded on Nov. 9, 2010.

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49 Writers blog

Guest post by Sarah Hurst on 'A Native Lad'

Ookpik.org, Tatitlik Community School Blog

Students performing 'A Native Lad'

Frozen Grin

Photos from the art opening for the illustrations of 'A Native Lad'

During World War II, the Unangan residents of the Aleutian Islands were taken by boat to internment camps in Southeast Alaska. When they returned after the war, the residents of the smallest villages—Kashega, Biorka and Makushin—were not permitted to return home. Instead they were resettled in larger communities.

Residents of Attu were captured by the Japanese and interned in Japan for the remainder of the war.

This presentation reports on boat trips with elderly former residents and their descendants to revisit Makushin in September 2009, and Kashega and Biorka in September 2010.

Dr. Mason will also tell of plans to revisit Attu. Lost Villages of the Aleutians is a project of the National Park Service in partnership with other agencies, including the Ounalashka Corporation and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Dr. Mason is a cultural anthropologist with the Alaska Regional Office, National Park Service.

This podcast was recorded on Nov. 19, 2010 at the UAA Campus Bookstore.

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Dutch Harbor Fisherman

News account of the 'Lost Villages' NPS project

Newsletter for Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association, Inc (PDF)

Account of 'Lost Villages' work