Back in 2021, I had picked up a contract to be the school portrait photographer for the North Slope Borough School District. I was the sole photographer for over 10 schools- many of which spanned the entire northern part of Alaska. While I have many memories from the other villages I traveled to, I want to talk about Utqiagvik (formerly known as Barrow) Alaska. (At least for this first part of a multi-part photo essay I am doing.)
Utqiagvik sits right on the Arctic Ocean, It is the northernmost community in the United States and is one of the most unique places I have ever been to. As I traveled around the North Slope, carrying almost 200 lbs of equipment, I learned much about the Alaskan Inuit population- and the willpower it takes to thrive in such remote but stunning places.
When I wasn’t in school taking portraits, I was out exploring and snapping other kinds of photos so that- one day- I could share my experiences. Well, at least for Barrow, the day is here.
During my second year in Barrow, I was able to see the families harvest whales- which act as a primary source of food for almost all of the communities on the North Slope. Whaling teams would head out into the Arctic Ocean and bring back the crucial animals. After the whales are brought to shore, everyone in the community helps to process this precious resource. In fact, on days when whales were harvested, there wouldn’t be many portraits to take- since most of the kids were helping with processing.
One day after school I went to the coast to see the whales being processed. It was the most expensive taxi ride I have ever taken (and was only for a few miles.) If it’s not obvious, everything on the North Slope costs way more than anywhere else in the United States- including food and fuel. I once saw a watermelon going for over $22 at one of the stores in town.
One of the best parts of traveling to these communities was building a relationship with the people who lived and thrived in such isolated conditions. These places were like none other that I have been to and you have to see them for yourself to get a grasp on how majestic they are. The sense of community and willingness of each family to help and provide for one another was unbridled altruism.
During my first year in Barrow, I noticed a lot of the homes had moose or caribou heads atop them– with freshly harvested meat and hide drying nearby. Each community relies on the crucial part that subsistence hunting provides. It was neat to see, but I will save those photos for myself.
This is the end of part I. Please stay tuned for Part II where we travel to some of the other villages on the North Slope of Alaska!
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