Emily Schwing

When special education teacher Dale Ebcas moved from his home in the Philippines to the tiny Alaskan village of Upper Kalskag back in the winter of 2020, the warmest layer he brought with him was a trench coat.

of Across the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, subsistence season is well underway. From geese, to ducks, to whitefish and pike, people are out hunting and gathering food to store up for next winter.

Teacher retention and recruitment is difficult and some schools make use of J-1 Visas to recruit teachers from outside the U.S. In one rural school district in Alaska, foreign teachers make up over half the staff. Read Full Article »

Many Indigenous communities in Alaska hold parties when someone catches their first seal of the season. That tradition is expanding to other accomplishments as well.

For generations, Yup'ik women have gathered for "throwing parties" in the coastal villages of Western Alaska to celebrate firsts (like the first seal caught by a young family member). In late April, a group of women gathered for a throwing party in the village of Mertarvik to help Mildred Tom celebrate her daughter's graduation and the recent accomplishments of her grandchildren.

NPR Morning Edition In some Alaska villages, hunting and fishing season starts with a “throwing party” Emily Schwing | June 11, 2024

Traditionally, throughout many Indigenous coastal communities in Western Alaska, when someone catches their first seal of the season, their family holds a "throwing party" to distribute that fresh catch to women and elders.

Traditionally, throughout many Indigenous coastal communities in Western Alaska, when a young family member hunts their first seal of the season, their

of Ryan Bukowski is a hunter and fisherman, carpenter and father, whose walrus ivory carvings are unique and priceless.

By day, Merna Lomack Wharton works a nine-to-five office job for the United States Bureau of Land Management.