Interview with Vincent Evans
Berlin Ethnological Museum (Contributor)
Chugach Alaska Corporation (Contributor)
Chugach Heritage Foundation (Contributor)
Vincent Evans (Contributor)
Chugach Alaska Corporation (Contributor)
Chugach Heritage Foundation (Contributor)
Vincent Evans (Contributor)
Vincent Evans speaks about the history of Nanwalek and Port Graham and his experience as part of the Chugachmiut delegation.
Vincent Evans speaks about the connection between Nanwalek and the Russian Orthodox Church, including the church's ban on shamanism. He notes that some people avoid discussing how religion changed perspectives on traditional shamans and spirituality, and recalls that as a child, adults would say "Oh my Jesus" only to then scold children for saying the same thing, illustrating some of the tensions religion introduced to community life.
Vincent shares that "Paluwik" means "sad people," reflecting the experience of being forced to relocate. He suggests this may be a misnomer, however, recalling that some people moved to Port Graham voluntarily due to disagreements with people from Nanwalek — possibly related to the fact that certain roads in Nanwalek pass over the graves of ancestors. He also reflects on how rapid technological advances, such as the introduction of electricity, shaped his village.
Evans shares that hearing all of the stories from other Chugachmiut Elders at the museum has been profoundly meaningful and a significant learning opportunity. He describes the power of witnessing participants find connections to their heritage, recalling one participant who shared that seeing a seal oil lamp produces a feeling of deep connection. Vincent connects this with the experience people have of walking along the shore of a lake or ocean and hearing a voice in their mind that prompts them to look down and discover some lost artifact. He notes that many of the artifacts have strong ties to what is still in use today, pointing out that spears used to hunt seals today closely resemble the harpoons housed in the museum, with the thickness of each indicating the intended prey. He reflects on how eye-opening it has been to encounter the shamanic masks, seal oil lamps, and other artifacts in person and in a multi-sensory way. He shares that he looks forward to presenting what he has learned to his village and continuing to build connections, with the hope of one day bringing some of the artifacts home.
Vincent shares that "Paluwik" means "sad people," reflecting the experience of being forced to relocate. He suggests this may be a misnomer, however, recalling that some people moved to Port Graham voluntarily due to disagreements with people from Nanwalek — possibly related to the fact that certain roads in Nanwalek pass over the graves of ancestors. He also reflects on how rapid technological advances, such as the introduction of electricity, shaped his village.
Evans shares that hearing all of the stories from other Chugachmiut Elders at the museum has been profoundly meaningful and a significant learning opportunity. He describes the power of witnessing participants find connections to their heritage, recalling one participant who shared that seeing a seal oil lamp produces a feeling of deep connection. Vincent connects this with the experience people have of walking along the shore of a lake or ocean and hearing a voice in their mind that prompts them to look down and discover some lost artifact. He notes that many of the artifacts have strong ties to what is still in use today, pointing out that spears used to hunt seals today closely resemble the harpoons housed in the museum, with the thickness of each indicating the intended prey. He reflects on how eye-opening it has been to encounter the shamanic masks, seal oil lamps, and other artifacts in person and in a multi-sensory way. He shares that he looks forward to presenting what he has learned to his village and continuing to build connections, with the hope of one day bringing some of the artifacts home.
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