Arctic Models @ 30 below zero!

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Archive 2008 · Arctic Models @ 30 below zero!

Majik_Imaje
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p.5 #1 · Arctic Models @ 30 below zero!

I have tried doing this many times, but alas, crooks lurk everywhere.

I am not going to have any more of my Inupiaq images stolen.

I have lost many hundreds of my best images due to theft!

British Petroleium

Alaska Printing Company

United Bank of Alaska

Alaska Fur Factory

those are just but a few of the RESPONSIBLE companies that have ripped me off.

many decades ago !!!

Feb 21, 2008 at 02:49 AM

Brian Lingle
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p.5 #2 · Arctic Models @ 30 below zero!

How did they get away with stealing from you? You have the copyright.

Feb 21, 2008 at 08:44 PM

Majik_Imaje
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p.5 #3 · Arctic Models @ 30 below zero!

How little you know about the "real world".

In order to do something, you need to hire "another crook".

and that costs a minimum of 10k. with no guarantees.

that has been my experience.

Of course I tried to do something, but it is a cruel world we live in,

Cheats, liars & thieves.

Just because you put a copyright notice on an image.

That doesn't mean squat, until you register it and file the necessary paper work.

Then a person can still "copy" that image legally in many different ways & methods.

Feb 22, 2008 at 11:35 PM

Brian Lingle
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p.5 #4 · Arctic Models @ 30 below zero!

Legally? We're surrounded by wolves.

Which reminds me... How do the dogs fare up there? I hear that wolves are stealing pet dogs right off the leash of the people walking them in Anchorage.

What's the relationship of the people with the dogs? Are they mostly considered working dogs? I don't see many dog sleds.

Do the kids play with the puppies? I don't recall any images you've posted of the dogs and their relationship with the people. Am I forgetting?

Feb 23, 2008 at 07:52 AM

Ted.Sz
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p.5 #5 · Arctic Models @ 30 below zero!

Great thread and photography. Thank you for sharing these.

Feb 23, 2008 at 08:40 AM

Majik_Imaje
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p.5 #6 · Arctic Models @ 30 below zero!

Wolves stealing dogs in Anchorage ? I have never ever heard of that and I have spent a lot of time in Anchorage. Nope. not one instance that I am aware of.

BUT... DOWN IN VALDEZ.. well that's a different story.. and one that is very very true, it has been published twice that I know of, in the newspaper in that town.

In the town of Valdez Alaska, down south in the middle of the "mass" very far south. This small quaint town is nicknamed little "Switzerland" the mountains that surround this town resemble the swiss alps very closely.

In that town is a large clothing store, general store as such, and on the wall by the cash register, these two stores are pinned up & framed.

A tourist couple was departing their hotel one morning, walking their little tiny dog. An huge bald heade eagle swooped down out of the sky and grabbed that dog and flew away, with the leash hanging as it rose in the air higher and higher, the husband could be heard and seen, jumping up and down yelling "hooray, hooray"!

This has happened at least two times probably more. but the Anchorage story is pure bull.!!

Dogs in the village, yes I have some dog photos. Lots of them, well not lots but a few.
Eskimo dogs are something you stay as far away from as possible.

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They lurk around most houses and if your not very careful that dog will have your leg off before you know it. These dogs are fierce, and they are kept chained up 24/ 7 all year around. Most people keep dogs as a warning if someone is near their premises.. Tobasco sauce has to be put on the chains regularly as the dogs will continue to try and chew through them.

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Dogs are far too valuable to ever bring out to the ocean ice pack. Dogs are very expensive to keep, providing food for them. I know of two people that keep dogs for a dog team, I suppose there are some others, but that is no longer, part of their culture as hondas & snowmachines have replaced that aspect.

There are many stray dogs and many have dogs as pets,

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Dog teams are a huge part of Rural Alaska below the Arctic Circle.

Near south central and all around the surrounding area, dog teams are popular and constantly seen in the off trails, keeping in shape and practicing for the Big Yearly Event the world famous Iditarod.

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Wolves in Anchorage, nope, never heard of it.
Moose ?? Sure, they are everwhere, Hundreds of them get killed each and every year North of Anchorage, and one thing happens every time a car or truck hits a moose, that moose comes through your windshield. Many people have died hitting these monsters. A moose is huge, you can drive a small car under them. but once you hit once.. there goes your windshield and half your vehicle.

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having dogs requires a large area and a lot of work. These dogs stay outside the year round, viscous storms with temps well below 100 below and these dogs just curly up, and the snow blows over them, They lie there, all winter long. Step to close to one, and you will get the lesson of your life. These happens when you get too close to a house and you don't see the dog buried in the snow.

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You have to be careful what you read and listen to, and believe. I read on one web page that there is only one huge caribou herd left in Alaska. (above the arctic circle). That statement is the biggest bunch of outlandish lying. south of Point Hope there is a herd well over 400,000, Up near ANWR.. top right area near canada border.. is a much larger herd.!

I have lived in Anchorage from 1990 -2003 and I have been all over that town, Population 250,000 in an area much larger than New York City.

thousands of people walk their dogs, and I have never heard of one incident.

Feb 23, 2008 at 11:08 AM

Brian Lingle
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p.5 #7 · Arctic Models @ 30 below zero!

ANCHORAGE DAILY NEWS - Dec 22, 2007

"A woman and her dog walking on a lighted loop of the Beach Lake trail system in Chugiak Dec. 4 were also confronted by several wolves, though the dog was uninjured in that encounter.

The next day, a woman walking her dog on Artillery Road heard her pet give a quick yelp as it vanished. The dog's head and collar were found the next morning about 50 yards off the road."

http://www.adn.com/wildlife/story/244284.html

Feb 23, 2008 at 06:54 PM

Majik_Imaje
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p.5 #8 · Arctic Models @ 30 below zero!

two incidents.. that happened after I left Anchorage.

You originally made it sound like it was a daily occurance.

Like I said. I have never heard of that happening.

what is of major concern in Anchorage is the "wars" that occur on a daily basis.

shootouts in the shopping malls. Asian gangs have taken over anchorage and the "wars" that go on are extremly troubling.

Last June there was a shootout every day !! but in 30 years I have never heard of wolves in Anchorage..

Yes you did manage to pull two incidents out of the news, I have never even heard of. ( go figure).

Chugiak is no where near Anchorage !!! that is a completly different city.
North of Anchorage some 35 miles or so.

Anchorage is extremly populated and I just don't see how wolves are wandering in that city.. On the outer outskirts of the city, sure it is possible.. but lIke I said again and again.. I have never heard of that happeing in Anchorage.. In other parts of the state ? Sure.. this is a vast wilderness up here.

Feb 23, 2008 at 07:10 PM

Brian Lingle
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p.5 #9 · Arctic Models @ 30 below zero!

David,

If you do a search on it, there are several articles describing several incidents and I saw an article describing a wolf problem in Fairbanks. I don't know anything about Anchorage and the locations they're talking about. I just said it was in Anchorage because that's where they said it was. Here's a quote from another article:

According to Sinnott, there are approximately 30 wolves living in the Anchorage area in four or five packs. He added that only two packs regularly come into contact with people. One is the Ship Creek pack, which roams the Chugach Mountains near Hiland Road and Fort Richardson. The other is the Elmendorf pack, known as such because it frequents Elmendorf Air Force Base, though it ranges across Fort Richardson as far north as the Palmer Hay Flats and possibly beyond.

“We had a similar problem with wolves from the Elmendorf pack 10 to12 years back,” Sinnott said. “We were able to relocate a couple wolves and that seemed to send the signal to the rest of the pack that being around humans was not safe and brought an end to the attacks.”

http://www.alaskastar.com/stories/122007/new_20071220007.shtml

I thought this was really interesting:

While Sinnott said the recent number of attacks on dogs seems unusual, the bigger danger is moose.

“A moose, especially one with a calf, is much more of a threat than a wolf to both humans and dogs when walking on dark trails in the middle of winter,” he said. “There are typically 50 to 60 dogs trampled by moose each winter.”

I was really surprized to hear about the gang wars. I thought that was a southern CA thing. The gang problem in Anchorage sounds worse than LA! A lot worse!

Edited by Brian Lingle on Feb 23, 2008 at 02:05 PM GMT

Edited on Feb 23, 2008 at 08:05 PM

Feb 23, 2008 at 07:25 PM

Brian Lingle
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p.5 #10 · Arctic Models @ 30 below zero!

This article refers to "Anchorage-area" attacks. It shows a map:

http://www.wolfsongnews.org/news/Alaska_current_events_2480.html

Edited on Feb 23, 2008 at 07:40 PM

Feb 23, 2008 at 07:34 PM

Majik_Imaje
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p.5 #11 · Arctic Models @ 30 below zero!

Not one of those areas, 1 - 4 is located in Anchorage !

Eagle River is 20 minute drive at least from the city of Anchorage.

Like I said. I have never heard of it happening in ANCHORAGE !!!

you keep quoting sources and events, OUTSIDE of the city limits many miles from the city itself !!

Feb 23, 2008 at 08:54 PM

Brian Lingle
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p.5 #12 · Arctic Models @ 30 below zero!

The last source I sited said, "Anchorage-area", in quotes, partly because that's the words they used and partly, to acknowledge agreement that they aren't saying, "in" Ancorage in that article. Did you hear about the attacks back when they were happening?

Considering that I don't even know where Anchorage is, my only point in bringing it up was to say that I heard wolves were attacking and killing dogs while people were walking them. I don't know all the details, but the newspapers reporting it and my friend in Chugiak who told me about it seem to think it's a big deal. If I were out walking my dog and wolves attacked it, I'd think it was a big deal, too! On the other hand, being attacked by a polar bear or falling through the ice or being dragged down by a whale sounds like a much bigger deal!

Edited on Feb 23, 2008 at 10:14 PM

Feb 23, 2008 at 10:07 PM

Majik_Imaje
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p.5 #13 · Arctic Models @ 30 below zero!

You orginally said Anchorage, now your up to Fairbanks and outside of that area!

It only takes 3 Alaska's to fill the entire United States. Yes Alaska has wolves, but they are not a problem in the greater Anchorage area. Go to the outskirts of this city and you will see, lots more wildlife than in the city itself.
A wolf skin is worth 1,000 bux. and they are few and far to find, here in the Arctic.

Moose, we see them every year in Anchorage, in the city. People avoid them and they do not bother people. (as a general rule).

30 years ago, Anchorage would record or register pehaps maybe one murder per year. Now it is a epidemic. 35 - 45 in a single year. It is getting way out of hand.
Especially the "traffic" from too many cars with an underdeveloped road system for the entire state.

It is still a great place to live, but I much prefer the village life. we have no traffic or any type of gun incidents here, and everyone is loaded to the max with weapons of every type imaginable. Children even have rifles !

Quiet peaceful type life, is what is so attractive about living in the Northern Villages.
that plus the cold crisp clean refreshing air. You would have to "taste" the air up here, it is different from anything you have ever experienced. L.A. is all polution and smog. & millions of people.

Two weeks ago it was 70 below, two days ago it was 20 above zero, much to hot for us. I do not like that type of heat. Today it is below zero by 10 degrees and tommorow is supposed to be much colder, good. Umailiq's are getting ready, to launch their respective crews to go whaling.

Next month, we begin all over again. First step is to cut a trail out to the lead opening.

Although the lead is very far out, perhaps as much as 20 miles here in Barrow, No one goes out, until that lead opens up. Workers work on the trail with pick and axe to blaize a trail for the hondas and snowmachines to carry equimpment out.

But by looking at the sky, you can easily tell when that lead opens, from way back in the village, The ice reflects back to the clouds, and they are all white.
But when the lead opens, the clouds over that open water area, are much darker and it is very easy to see, The water reflects back to the clouds and it is very much darker.

As I said, the Inupiaq Peoples have many tricks that most people do not understand or comprehend.

It took a long time to understand and comprehend what was meant, when people merly looked at the sky and said.. Good, there is open water !! I always wondered, how does he know the ice is open ??

Once you know how to read the sky, Much information can be determined.
These people are far more accurate predicting the weather, than any weather man with all the sophistacted equipment they use.

30 below zero up here, is a wonderful beautiful gorgeous day, you can easily stay outside all day long and not get cold.

NO I don't think you can compare L.A. with Anchorage, no comparison.

today the main concern here in Barrow is / are some people lost, out on the ocean ice. 5 people were lost and well overdue. 3 of those people were found and safely brought back to the village in good health. A man and his two children. Two others are still missing and search and rescue has been out there all night, looking for them. They will never give up until they are located and brought back to the village.

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Using a "niksit" to snag that seal, once it has been shot, so far out, requires great skill, and "balance". This is a 16 year old boy out here on that ice. Gus Kowanna. I have known him since he was a child him and his older brother Ashley (Unqsii).
The distance he has to throw this is pretty far, and to be that accurate means the difference between going hungry, or having food for the entire family, and some of the "dogs" !!

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They have been found.

We are in constant touch with all villages, during the day, This is one incredibly tight knit vast area. Each and every village is knit together as one, over the huge distances.

Kotzebue = 3,000 people ( 12 more villages surrounding this area)

Kivalina = 125 people

Pt. Hope = 800

Pt. Lay = 250

Wainwright = 650

Barrow = 5,000

That is not very many people for an area twice the size as all of the New England States put together.

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Seagulls are virtually non-existent up here, you never see them, until food has been gathered, then they magically appear from out of no where.

The wind in Point Hope is ferocous, violent and ever present.
Ravens seem to enjoy this immensly, for they often "hover" in that wind, then relax, and they go backwards several hundred yards, This is a common sight in the village of Point Hope, birds playing in the wind, flying backwards.

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The North Slope is a huge vast area of they say over 10,000,000 million lakes !

Edited by Majik_Imaje on Feb 24, 2008 at 02:42 PM GMT

Edited on Feb 24, 2008 at 11:42 PM

Feb 23, 2008 at 10:16 PM

Brian Lingle
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p.5 #14 · Arctic Models @ 30 below zero!

"You orginally said Anchorage, now your up to Fairbanks and outside of that area!"

Yes, I was refering to and sometimes quoting what they said in the news articles. They referred to the problem being "in Anchorage" and they also referred to it as being in the "Anchorage area" and they gave specific locations and a map showing where. They also said there was a problem with wolves in Fairbanks.

"Yes Alaska has wolves, but they are not a problem in the greater Anchorage area. "

Again, I'm referrring to what they said in the news articles. I quoted the articles and I included links to the articles. So, unless I'm misunderstanding you, you're saying that what they're saying is wrong. Unless I'm misquoting or misrepresenting the things they wrote in the articles, I'd say your arguement is with them. From what you've written here, it sounds like the media has been wrong about how it represented some other things. Either way, I'm in no position to argue the case on either side, so the disagreement would have to be with them.

"what is of major concern in Anchorage is the "wars" that occur on a daily basis.

shootouts in the shopping malls. Asian gangs have taken over anchorage and the "wars" that go on are extremly troubling.

Last June there was a shootout every day !!"

The gang wars you described above sound worse than the gang violence I've heard of in LA. That was the only comparison I was making. When you say there's no comparison, do you mean Anchorage is not as bad, is much worse or that it's a lot different?

Thanks for the photos, info and stories about the dogs. I'd think a photo of a dog laying there covered with snow and blended in with the snow could be a really dramatic image. You'd just have to be careful not to get your lens or your face chomped off. Probably wouldn't want to use a fisheye.

I also like the image of the child playing with the older puppy. The are playing aren't they? What's the story behind the last photo of the dogs? If they were all huskys I'd guess that's how they keep their sled dogs, but it looks like several different breeds. They aren't sled dogs, are they?

Glad to hear they found everyone that was out on the ocean ice. That guy standing out on the last little island of ice throwing the grappling hooks, that looks pretty risky considering what you've said about the ocean ice.

Edited on Feb 24, 2008 at 06:16 AM

Feb 24, 2008 at 05:38 AM

Majik_Imaje
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p.5 #15 · Arctic Models @ 30 below zero!

the story about the boy & the dog ? it is just a boy, playing with a dog, it might be his, and then again it just might be a friendly stray.

Those dogs in the kennel area, yes they are all sled dogs. J.J. Lane has raced in the Iditarod. many years ago at least twice.

Feb 24, 2008 at 09:09 AM

Brian Lingle
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p.5 #16 · Arctic Models @ 30 below zero!

I like the way the girl in the middle is holding the other 2 back in the sled dog photo.

Feb 24, 2008 at 06:12 PM

Majik_Imaje
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p.5 #17 · Arctic Models @ 30 below zero!

You can always tell if it is cold out, just by looking at their hands.

And I was just informed. This image that your referiing to. Shows the only dog team that is left in the village.

Russell J. Lane had the last dog team in the entire village. Emily Lane used to have a team. but she is down to just 3 dogs only.

We wonder, who will take over J. J.'s dogs, now that he is gone, from the village to serve out his time in a federal prison- 40 years.

And, .. .. another sad note, in the village, Martin Oktollik Jr. died yesterday, from a massive stroke. The young man was only in his 30's. HIs wife Margret is left alone with their 6 children. She is currently pregnant. He will be sorely missed.

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Feb 24, 2008 at 08:15 PM

Majik_Imaje
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p.5 #18 · Arctic Models @ 30 below zero!

As.. I have mentioned many times, these children just fascintate me.

And as said before , you can easily tell if it is cold out, just by looking at the childrens "hands".

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The image above is Martin Oktollik Jr.'s wife Margret . It is always so sad to see people so young, that you spent many years with, die so young, so suddenly.

Cancer is running rampant through this village and many others close by, all because the governement spread radioactive waste throughout this region to see what effects it would have on the enviroment and on the people & animals.

-=[PROJECT CHARIOT]=-

....and to the best of my knowledge, No compensation has ever been made to the many familes who have lost elders in the prime of their young life because of cancer. 200 elders,(late 50's - low 60's) gone in a flash all so young so sudden, so quick. Dozens of many families.. tisk tisk. ! It is just another miscarriage of justice. (sigh).

But then you see this image and it makes you wonder, how can they be outside like this, in the Arctic and not be cold ? Why aren't those children cold at all ?

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Snow is melting,.. it is still very cold to me, I don't understand how they can do this, I really don't, I am cold with gloves, hat and parky. Many times when mothers are bringing a two - 5 year old child into the gym or Qalagi for community events, it is a common sight to see children of this age, run.. outside with just a t-shirt and "regular clothing" when it is 40 below and colder and that mother will have to run and chase that child outside with (child's) parky to capture them and put it back on. These chidlren love to do that so much, it must be some type of adrenalin rush ?? I have no idea why,they do it. this occurs much to often

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and on the same day, it is still windy but there is no way to show you how windy it is but that is what makes it so cold when it is 30 above, (actual temp) That wind brings the wind chill temp down much lower and you feel it. I am dressed to the max with as I stated gloves, hat, parky bunny boots and ski pants. that wind goes through everything. but if your running around, I suppose that helps !

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thanks for taking the time !!

Time to get ready for whaling, here in Barrow !!

Edited on Feb 24, 2008 at 11:25 PM

Feb 24, 2008 at 11:18 PM

frontosa
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p.5 #19 · Arctic Models @ 30 below zero!

Thanks for sharing. Nice series. Nice stories.

Gerry

Feb 25, 2008 at 06:09 PM

Brian Lingle
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p.5 #20 · Arctic Models @ 30 below zero!

If you're dressed to the max at 30 degrees, how did you deal with living out on the ice? What do you do when it's -40?

Feb 25, 2008 at 10:14 PM

Majik_Imaje
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p.5 #21 · Arctic Models @ 30 below zero!

30 above & 40 below is a 70 degree change in temp.

all I gotta do is put on ski pants and a beaver hat.

I will show you photos of people here in Barrow @ 50 above and they are still wearing winter parky's.

Children have great circulation, and are able to stay outside running around and not have the weather bother them one bit.

I on the other hand, as soon as that wind is blowing, no matter what the temp, I go out with my parky on.

I will post some photos, where children are without any xtra clothing on, and other people are dressed to the max to protect them from that cold bitter wind.

Ear-infections are the main reason people cover their head, to block that wind.

summer time & winter time that wind is extremly vicious.

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Here are some images, all on the same day, it is 50 above zero.

Pay carefull attention to how some of these people are dressed. It will not make any sense to you, when you see the two different extremes of how people dress.

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We live in a different world, a world where what you experience we do not and vicea versa.

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Oh I forgot to mention, it is the 4th of July. and yes Eskimos celebrate this important holiday with a complete entire day of activities. Lasting over 20 hours.!

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Feb 26, 2008 at 12:06 AM

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p.5 #22 · Arctic Models @ 30 below zero!

Just wanted to let you know I am one of many "tuning in" to each new installment on this forum and the City/Abstract Forum. I hope you will be continuing on both.
Keep it comin'!

Thx
Scott

Feb 26, 2008 at 12:19 AM

Majik_Imaje
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p.5 #23 · Arctic Models @ 30 below zero!

Thanks Scott and to all of the other people reading this post. I have "thousands" more images ! to fill pages & pages of photos with stories and more info on: North America's Oldest people(s).

and to back up and answer a bit more throughly about the difference in temps.

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Out on the ocean ice. we eat "quaq" to generate body heat and keep warm(er).

We could never do that in the summer time, (eating quaq). you will burn up !!
Those mountains, back of the village far in the backgound are 80 miles away, You can see them in many of these photographs, You cannot go up there, during hot days, you will literally 'cook" ! it is much too hot for any of these people way far out, in the interior, it is over 90+ degrees.

As I said earlier, (when eating quaq), at thirty below we are taking clothes off because, you just become toooooooooooo hot !!

The Arctic is extremly dry, the tricks we use out on the ocean ice will not work where you live because there is just too much moisture in the air, and it will have the opposite effect.

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I have been outside in 80 below zero weather with bunny boots, and my feet have never ever gotten cold standing on ocean ice 24/ 7.

In Boston my bunny boots would freeze and become rock solid hard. They still kept me quite warm, but they work differently on the east coast, and it is all because of too much moisture in the air.

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I will take and endure 30 below zero here in the arctic over 30 above where you live any day of the week, month or year. That is a 60 degree temp difference.!! YOU ARE COLDER THAN WE ARE!!! I realise that this sounds absurd, preposterous!

but it is the truth !! Maybe you read past this statment many pages ago. 'here in Alaska" the cold, just gets ON you, it never penetrates, the clothing. The more loose layers you build up, the warmer you stay, all day / night.

now lets go back to 50 degree weather and see what is happening even though the wind is blowing, always from the north. Yes it does change direction, but it is not the prevailing wind.

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South wind is warm, dangerous wind, West wind is "rich" wind. (chuckle), > it means fossil ivory is going to wash up on "certain" beaches!! and a lot of people are out there, during the storms, East wind is very rare, & when the winds do shift to east and west.. no planes, they can't land, the wind blows them off the runway as they make the final approach and it happens too many times.. as the pilot is trying to land.. and on the third or fourth attempt.. so close to landing.. we have to fly back to Barrow or Kotzebue.!! .. That is always such a terrible letdown, I have been through it, too many times.

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Meanwhile, back at the "ranch".. some young pup is about to smell a good meal.

A small turkey in the Point Hope Store costs about $150.00 bucks, That is ONE meal for a family of 12. With such high unemployment, a bullet is far less and feeds so many more.

But as you saw earlier, it is quite a lot of walking, and very dangerous with no guarantees. The sweet smell of success! & a lot of happy people.

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Feb 26, 2008 at 05:24 AM

Majik_Imaje
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p.5 #24 · Arctic Models @ 30 below zero!

Seals, are used as a food source for people in the village(s). Some people throughout the world are offended by this.

Live up here, unemployed, and figure out a way to eat and survive. That is my first statement.

The head of a seal is a small target, and only for a very few precious seconds. That is all the time you have, when one surfaces to look around.
one well placed bullet can feed a large family for days. If you know how to retrieve one, using a "niksit",

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Here is a nice piece of "spotted" seal. We have 5 types of seals up here, and the population is large, what the people of Pt. Hope use is a speck compared to the actual population. Seals are a polar bears main diet.

Not one scrap of that seal is ever wasted. Nothing is wasted here in the Arctic except for one thing, just one .. and that is.. .. .. .. "money" !

How can one seal generate money when it is used as food ? The skin !

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This skin will be used to make some Authentic Native Inupiaq Eskimo DOLLS.

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There are no banks in the villages. Kotzeube has one, Barrow has one, and for the life of me I do not understand how this one bank, continues to steal money from these people at an alarming rate. If I walk into any bank anyplace in the lower 48 states or in any part of the world, and I attempt to steal just "one dollar". I bet the odds are, I would be arrested, even if I was unsuccessful in obtaining that one dollar.

Wells Fargo bank.. .. .. almost a billion dollars (last year) they made, just on overdrafts!
This bank has a license to steal from all of these people and they do it quite freguently. I deposit "cash" in this bank on a Wednesday. Next tuesday of the following week, this money is still "pending".!! and I am charged an over daft each and every tme I access any of this money.

I threw all my checks away and refused to use them. I quit spending any money that was or had been deposited in the bank. We did not made as much as one transaction in a months time.

I was hit with 5 overdrafts each and every day. The entre North Slope is very upset over the shoddy business practices of this bank. I filled out a "theft" report with the police in Kotz, over this bank. The only thing that happened, was that - that bank manager was transfered to a different village down south in Alaska.

This year they have increased their overdraft fee an additional "dollar".

I do business now with a much more honest bank for the last three years, I have not had one overdraft. We lost over $3,000 through the theft of funds from Wells Fargo, Imagine that, a million dollars was generated, 1000 times just on overdrafts from all the customers of this bank in less than a years time.

In fact: I just came back from the Wells Fargo Bank here in Barrow just minutes ago. No I do not have any money in that bank nor will I ever have funds deposited in that bank.
My purpose for going to the only bank in town was to have a letter, notarized. that's all. Oh my what a time I had. I have "expired" ! We cannot do this for you, we have rules and YOU ARE EXPIRED . we cannot notarize your signature.

My License to operate a motor vehicle has expired, not my identity !!
I produced six photo id's he beligerently said no ! Unless it is a goverment issued Id I cannot use any of these photo id's that have expired. I prodcued a goverenment issued Veternas ID card with no expiration date, he said NO AGAIN.
I calmly asked, .. didn't you just say, unless it is a governemt issued i.d. with photo? no you say no! After much arguing he said.. these profound words..."I am going to make an exception for you just this one time." WoWoW !! How noble and kind of you, young man !!

So lets make a seal skin doll and make a few THOUSAND dollars !!!
Can you sew ? good, you have a method of generating funds, just by staying at home and keeping busy throughout the day. First we are going to use some calf skin to create the Kupaks. (fancy trim @ bottom of parky)

NOTICE: Eskimos never call it "Parka" it is a "Parky"
Somethings are always referred to in the plural sense. such as, can you please start my "hondas" meaning just one.

Creating & designing the Kupaks are a time consuming job. The calf skin must be all pointing in the same direction. Much work goes into making and sewing this kupak design into the seal skin parky.

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Once they have been made and put on the parky, the rest is pretty straight forward approach to finishing and completing this doll. Elizabeth Oviok is the designer and creator of this doll. This is #22 & # 23 for Elizabeth Elizabeth !!

This image is copyrighted by the owner

These two dolls- sold for $1,500 each.
Elizabeth Oviok, whew, what an unbelievable story this is:

I fell in head over heels in love with this woman in March of 1988.

I married Clara Oktollik Jan 23 of 82. I had always noticed Elizabeth in the village as she stood out, from among the rest of the women in a couple of different ways. First she is the tallest woman in that village. Second, she always dressed, Oh ! so nice, not like the other women, she was always with a fancy hairdo, always wore ear-rings and just looked so..........arrrggggghhhhh!!!! WoWoW.. who is that? I would always ask Clara. and her reply.. laughing was always the same.. that is your girl-friend Elizabeth.. WoWow.. I sure didn't recognize her at all. What happened I would always ask? How come she is not married or doesn't have a boy friend.

Someone that beautiful, wowow !!..

I moved back to the village after a 4 year absence in March of 1988, My father passed on / in May - Friday 13th of 83. and I left the village to attend his funeral in Boston.

Back in Boston it was good to see ol friends of mine that I hadn't seen in years.
I asked my wife back in the village to pack everything up (photography wise) and send it to Boston. 40 packages packed with all of my equipment. I always travel with my negatives on my lap, in a packsack.

All of my equipment never arrived. for some strange reason, it arrived in Kotzebue and in Anchorage it all mysteriously disappeared.

wife #Y - Clara carefully wrote on each of the huge boxes.. FRAGILE PHOTOGRAPHY EQUIPMENT. alas it was all stolen.

Edited on Feb 27, 2008 at 11:40 PM

Feb 27, 2008 at 02:21 AM

Majik_Imaje
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p.5 #25 · Arctic Models @ 30 below zero!

I was always faithfull to Y, but the same was not true of her towards me.

Clara arrived in Boston in August of 83, she did not like Boston one bit.

It was way too cold for her. she froze her ickauqs off. (buttocks). Even wearing her huge fur parky in the winter time.. she was always complaining how cold it was. It gets right into your bones.

We are talking about temps of 30 above zero!! She had never experienced that "type' of cold, and she did not like it one bit.

She made 3 trips back to the village from Boston, during the 4 1/2 years we lived back east.

The first trip was in the spring of 84. The police showed up at our house in Boston, with a message. (we had no phone yet). didn't want one. didn't need one.

"Call back to the village the police said, Fred Oktollik." that was all the note said

The call was made to the village and we found out, Fred was dead. Oh I broke down ! I was speaking to Calvin Oktollik (Umailiq - Whaling Captain) and I said, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. His reply knocked me right off my feet.

" don't be sorry", it has already happend! It is in the past..

Isaiah & Mark were each born in Boston

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Isaiah in November of 83

Mark Andrew in June of 85

.The other two were born in Alaska, Jesse in Kotzebue and Khristopehr in Anchorage.

Kaumaluk was my closest friend in the entire village. (sob). He spent most of his time with me during the days, showing me, explaining to me, how simple things were done, I got stupid, written all over me. I have no idea how to do the simplest of chores - the correct way. He would give me advice and teach me.

For instance: "When you want to melt a big pot of snow, I would do it the stupid way. I would just fill the pot with clean snow . NO !! your wasting your time doing it that way.

You have to compact that snow, and fill it full, other wise your just wasting time, and fuel to melt a much lesser amount.

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This was the house, at the time, I was living in, When Fred began to teach me the simple things about living in the village. It was in much better shape, then it is pictured here. Notice the entry way. that is a small quanichaq (cunny chuck).

You do not open an outside door to enter the house.. the house fills up with thick smoke from the change in temp. so at least two doors are used to gain entrance to any house. I have seen as many as four doors before you enter some homes.

One day in 1983, Clara and I went to the Point Hope Native Store. We were broke but I had a 50 dollar bill. ha ha ha. that is like 5 bux, in the village. The store manager would not cash this 50 as it was missing a small portion of one corner. 1/2 of the 50 in the top left corner was missing.. he refused to let us buy food.

We went home upset and I placed that 50 dollar bill inside of an electrical code book and I forgot all about it. Three other familes lived in this house when we moved out of the village in 83. When we returned in 88, we moved back into this house but it was full of snow.. I had to dig it all out..

I sure laughed very hard when I was digging the snow out and thowing it out the broken window.. I uncovered that old code book I left there, 5 years earlier.

I almost fell over when I opened it and that ol 50 was still there !!! ha ha ha ha.! This time, the new store manager let us cash it in for food.!!

The old store manager left in 85, after stealing over 300,000 in cash from these people.
I tried to teach Fred, one thing. do not ever drink alcohol ! I constantly harped on this subject to him. Fred was young, very young, as in 15 when I first met him. He was a much younger brother to Clara.

Kaumaluk (comb ah look).

Kaum was walking through the village one morning with the biggest smile on his face. Ida Tauruk saw him and approached him and asked him, Kaum, how come your so happy ?? He said.. I have been waiting for this day for a long time. Today is my birthday,, I am 18. she smiled and said Uvah (here).

She handed him a bottle a fifth of R & R whiskey !!

Fred (Kaum) went over to his best friends house with that bottle of .. .. stuff !

Saul Lisbourne was Kamalauks best friend for many many years. They were both nice people and I knew them both exceptionally well. Saul was happy to see his best friend and they began to drink & drink & drink.

Saul said to Kaum.. hey Kaum.. look at what I just bought ! Saul pulled out a 357 magnum gun.

Hey lets play.. .. "russian roulette" ! Sure go ahead take the first try was Freds' drunken response.. boom !

Right in the center of the forehead. Kaumaluk was dead ! ( a fully loaded weapon).

Saul spent the next 5 years in jail, it was ruled an accident. Everyone in the village knew how close these two were.

NOW for the BIZZARRE PORTION: When Kaumaluk died, his girl-friend was pregnant, so was Clara. & so was Kaum's sister in law in Barrow, she was married to his older brother Don Oktollik.

When these three babies were born, each was named Kaumaluk when they were born.

Each of these three babies.. One born in Boston, One born in Point Hope and one born in Barrow... .. each child, was a male, and each had a bright cherry red mark in the center of the forehead. In the same representative spot that Kaum was shot.

These "marks" disappeared over a short amount of time.

Mark was given his Eskimo name of Kaumaluk

Isaiah is "Tingook"

Jesse is "Apiuk"

Khristopher is "Killigniik"

This image is copyrighted by the owner

I was working here, when all of this happend. 53 State St. in downtown Boston

This 40 story high rise office building was completly controlled from a building in .. .. Toronto Canada ! Automated Building System installed by Johnson Controls, of whom I was an employee from the Union Hall Local 103 in Boston.

This is where I was during the summer of 83 and the spring of 84.

November of 87, We decided to go back to Alaska.

My reasons for doing this were "family oriented" in Boston.

I had to get away from them, before I ended up in Jail !!!

I had spent well over a year in 1980/81 basically living on the Boston Commons, creating images of the interesting people I captured there. This was my favorite place to create images. I had one incredible collection of the best candid street Art that was so precious to me. I still mourn over the loss of those images.

My mother re-married and her (son) therw them all out.. thousands of negatives kept in sleeves in a huge looseleaf binder. This was the "BOOK" THATI wanted to publish. I left them with my mother when I went to Alaska in 81. I said please make sure nothing happens to these. I do not want to loose them.. Her son - Linus decided to throw them all away, in a certified hate gesture. He denied it for 20 years and my mother stuck up for him. We decided to leave Boston when Clara was rapped by him one morning. and my mother again stuck up for him.. we got the hell out of there. I was ready to kill! This barbaric act destroyed my bride and she didn't want nothing to do with me or my family. We went back to Alaska.

When we arrived in Anchorage on November 16th, we went down town and saw quite a few people from Point Hope.. One of the people we met was Alice Oviok, she was always a good friend.. in fact she made the wedding cake the day Clara and I got married, then left the village a few days later.

She had a package that needed to go to Point Hope, It is now March, so we offered to take it up to the village as we were leaving for the village, the next day.

When we arrived in the village in March of 88 we delivered the package to Tigluk's house.. Kirk & Rosemary Oviok.. elders.

Kirk was one of the very first elders I became friends with. I was walking home from the corporation, I had just purchased some mouton skins to have an eskimo hunting parky made for me. I had just purchased four skins for 100 each, they were in a clean plastic bag as Kirk approached me, outside the corporation as I was walking. you? electrician he asked . I replied yes with a smile. My electric stove can't work, can you fix it.. I said sure. He said 5 people can't fix it for me.

I laughed hard.. ha ha ha.. there is nothing to an electric stove.. very easy to trouble shoot and fix.

As we entered his house. Kirk (Tigluk) began to speak in Inupiaq to his wife Rosemary.

Oh Rosemary said.. you buy skins? I couldn't figure out, how she knew what was in the bag. ha ha ha.. Kirk had just told her. she said.. give them to me, come back tommorrow, I will make you parky.!!

She never ever took as much as one measurement.. she didn't need to.
She had been making parky's for her huge family for more than 5 decades.

Meanwhile back at the electric stove.. I turned all burners on.. nothing.. I put my hands on one unit and moved it around and in and out. I felt heat ! I know exactly what is wrong.. I pulled all of the elements on the top of the stove out. Spread the prongs a bit, and wrapped each one with tin foil and shoved them all back in place, turned on the elements of the top of the stove,,.. .. they were all glowing red. They were so happy.. so happy.!!!

Word quickly spread throughout the entire village!

The next day I went back as Rosemary said. and she pulled out a finished parky and said uvah (here). try it on.. it fit perfectlly as in a "glove' it was perfect for my size. the arms/ sleeves came to the exact spot required so that the gloves would fit into the sleeve to prevent wind from going up your arm. I was amazed, how much? I asked, she said Atausik, 1 (A toe sick) One.. .. . hundred bux. I gladly handed her a fresh new bill.

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I finally had a genuine hunting parky and I was so proud... .. and much warmer!!

That one kind act cememted a long long relationship with the Oviok family. I did not want any pay for fixing the stove, it only took me 5 minutes if that.

It was at this house. I had to deliver this package, that we brought up from Anchorage.

I was in this house.. in March of 88 talking to Rosemary and Kirk who were sitting down on the couch, and they were so happy to see me again after a 4 year absence. I was facing them when I heard my name mentioned.. Hey Dave !

I look around in back of me to see some people standing there. and one woman bent over taking things out of the box I had just delivered. As I turned to see who was calling me, this gorgeous woman bent over look over at me and smiled the most beautiful smile I had ever seen in my life. she said.. ... Alice says hi!

An Atomic bomb went of.. a nuclear explosion went off inside of my spirit Gosh, who is that woman ? whoa !! Oh My goodness.. what an exceptionally gorgeous becutiful woman.. we left the house (Clara & I) and started to walk, I was in a state of shock.. & very depressed.

Clara wanted a divorce, and I was adamatly opposed to this idea of hers... I asked.. who was that woman that said my name. clara laughed again and said.. that is Elizabeth.. your girlfriend!..

I was even more depressed now. I didn't even recognize her because I had never seen her hair that way. gosh she was so beautiful!! I was obsessed! but married and I cannot think like that at all.

the rest of that year, went by with no unusual happenings cept to say that death was freguent in the village that year.. Every month. people were dying, and it was a very sad time.

Tigluk passed on in 1998 .. from .. Cancer.. Rosemary is still alive and well and is now the very young age of 86 !! She is the oldest living elder in the village today.

Edited on Feb 28, 2008 at 09:39 AM

Feb 28, 2008 at 09:35 AM


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