The spring whaling season is underway on Alaska’s North Slope. The Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission reports St Lawrence Island whaling crews are having success with four bowheads landed by Savoonga hunters and two for Gambell. Whalers on the mainland coast are ready and waiting.
Barrow elder Walter Akpik isn’t participating in the hunt this year, but he’s likely following it closely. Last summer, he spoke with reporter Anne Hillman for part of our series on Alaska culture, and described just what it takes to land a whale.
Anne Hillman is the healthy communities editor at Alaska Public Media and a host of Hometown, Alaska. Reach her at ahillman@alaskapublic.org. Read more about Anne here.
