Tamara Ann Burgh

My Eskimo Family 14 (continued from July 15)

Finally, I'm back to my story--been tending an ill mother, but life is nearly back to normal. So back to  Golovin.

I quickly learned that the family worked from sun-up to sun-down; which were long days in the land of midnight sun! I was constantly looking and asking for something else to do. Koke was my closet companion, but he was flying charters most of the day. My Aunt Maggie was extremely patient and would find a number of small things for me to do throughout the day. I stacked shelves in the grocery, made pitchers of the drink of choice--Tang, tended the store counter when Sister was busy elsewhere, pumped gas from 50 gallon drums into jerry cans for fishermen . . . I also was the go-to person when a phone call came in for someone in the village. The only phone in town was in the store, thus the phone was managed by my Aunt. I was often sent across the peninsula to the fish co-op to report a call coming in for George, the cook, or one of the managers there.

As hard as everyone worked during the week, Sundays were for church and relaxation. Church services were given by Old Man Siegfried. He must have been in his late 80's and spoke only Eskimo and was barely audible as he spoke only out of the corner of his mouth. After the short sermon, he would pass the offering plate. The church was a  small building with a wood heater in the back for winter. During the week Koke had been flying very early mornings so one Sunday fell asleep against the wall. Siegfried shuffled up to him and held the offering plate in front of Koke's chest for some time before my Aunt Maggie signaled Siegfried away. Sister and I began giggling and could not stop. When we saw Siegfried had his boots on the wrong feet we were helpless with laughter.

After church Koke flew Sister and I some 90 miles down the coast to Unalakleet. Sister was to stay there for the week visiting friends. As we strolled through town, there was Jeffery on the front step of a home strumming a guitar and singing. We were stunned by what we saw--like something out of a cartoon. Jeffery strummed the same tuneless chord over and over singing off key "My Dog Has Flies" while a real dog at his feet howled in disagreement!

Jeffery barely acknowledged our presence. We later heard the mission church soon sent him back home. After dropping Sister off, Koke flew us back home with a stop-over at a fish camp. It was thrilling for me to land on the shores of a river and walk up to native people at their summer fish camp while fish dried on racks in the sun.

Koke was becoming a good friend for me--but the next day he would be dead.

(to be continued) copyright 2008 Tamara Ann Burgh, all rights reserved

Fisherman's boat supplies: gas jerry jugs, parky with wolf ruff, seal float and what appears to be a newly captured seal.

Long trip to the fish co-op (far distance): around Grandma's Lake, down airport runway) from the store to tell folks there of an in-coming call.

My Eskimo Family 13 (continued from July 5)

My cousin, Koke, had invited me to Golovin for the summer to work in the family store (and only store in Golovin). I was devastated when upon arrival I was told my other cousin, MO (Koke's brother) had already promised the summer job to his fiance, Carol. Carol would be arriving in two weeks. Thus, I had two weeks to either find a way back home to Chicago, or possibly find other work in the village. That seemed unlikely.  Meanwhile, I had two weeks to prove I was a worker; I wasn't some prima dona suburban girl who needed to be taken care of.  But, in the end, two weeks would not buy me a ticket home.

Although I had known my three cousins, Donny, Koke and MO for a few years; they had visited my parents' home in Chicago a few times; I didn't know they had a sister, the youngest of the four. Thus, she was another cousin of mine, along with my aunt and uncle, who I would meet for the first time in Golovin. The boys' sister was the youngest of the four and named Margaret though they called her Sister.

Koke finally arrived in the little yellow plane 4 days after Dan's and my arrival. We were all very happy to see him. The fact that he had flown from Duluth, MN to Alaska's Seward Peninsula, in a fabric covered, single passenger (pilot only), stick controlled, single engine, instrument-spare plane over the Rocky Mountains, was barely acknowledged by his family and Dan. I, however, was greatly impressed by this feat.

Sister and her dad, Martin, my uncle, did not seem too keen on my being there--actually, they were borderline hostile.  I suspected they thought me to be a "white" girl they'd have to take care of. I didn't blame them for their seemingly negative attitude towards me. Golovin is the arctic wilderness and my relatives were living a somewhat subsistence lifestyle and I must have looked rather skinny and helpless. Sister was a necessarily physically tough girl, so it was up to me to work as hard as her and earn my keep however I could. I was determined to win them over.

(to be continued) copyright 2008 Tamara Ann Burgh, all rights reserved

View of the Bering Sea from my bedroom window. My Great Uncle Harry Gerberg traveled across these waters to Siberia to trade with the coastal Eskimos there. He was quite the storyteller--stories I plan to share on this blog.

Beach line where I followed Sister's lead in gathering firewood.

The mail plane arrived on Wednesday's. Dan is in the orange jumpsuit. We used to tease him for how he buttoned it all the way to his chin. My cousin, Donny, is in the red shirt. Unfortunately, I didn't anticipate the need to take FRONT pictures of anybody!

My Eskimo Family 12 (continued from June 30)

So I was finally in Golovin. And still no Koke (see My Eskimo Family 5). He wouldn't show up for another three days as he was storm bound somewhere in the Yukon. My cousins, Donny, Koke and M.O. and their sister Margaret aka Sister, and their parents (my Aunt Maggie and Uncle Martin) owned THE village store and THE flight service--airplane being the only practical way in and out of Golovin.

Although these were my family members, we were virtually strangers. I had come to Golovin on the offer from my cousin, Koke, to work in their store. Upon my arrival, however, I was told that my other cousin, M.O., had already promised his fiance, Carol, the job. She would arrive in two weeks.

Here I was, a suburban girl, in the wilderness with no way to earn my keep--accept for two weeks before my "rival" arrived. My aunt must have groaned with the prospect of having to take care of me. Dan's friendship and comradeship was suddenly unavailable. He would show up for meals but would disappear other times. Where did he go? I wished Koke would finally arrive.

Meanwhile I would explore my stunning surroundings and get to know "my people". 

(to be continued) copyright 2008 Tamara Ann Burgh, all rights reserved

Golovin from the air--as you can see, the peninsula looks like a dainty ankle and foot.

Grandma's Lake, the schoolhouse (right) and the fish co-op (background, situated on the "heel" of the foot).

Home of Nurse's Aid (yellow bldg) and grave site atop hill.

Maggie, another cousin (front), Betsy (middle) and Ann Marie. Boy?

Three friends visiting Maggie's house enjoying some Tang.