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Time
Line Recent
History of the Akulmiut Villages
1789 Objects made of metal
begin filtering into YK delta, but very rare until
1890's. 1790 Russians explore Kuskokwim
River area. 1794 First Russian Orthodox
Monks arrive in Alaska (8 of them at
Kodiak). 1799 Formation of the
Russian-American Corporation (A regional
monopoly). 1800 Early 1800's the "time of
war" ends (fighting for land and
resources). 1818 Russian-American Corp.
explores delta and visits Akulmiut
villages/camps. 1830 Russians set up a trading
post on the Kuskokwim to trade for furs. 1832 Akulmiut trade furs for
seal skin/oil dirrectly with the Russian traders
(through 1844). 1832 Akulmiut bring many beaver
furs to trading post to trade for seal
skin/oil. 1838 Smallpox epidemic kills
many throughout Y-K delta. 1839 Mamterillemiut burn
Russian trading post because of the
epidemic. 1840 Russian trading post is
rebuilt. 1861 Russian Orth. Priest comes
down the Johnson to visit Akulmiut
villages. 1867 Russian Government sells
it's claim to Alaska to the United
States. 1878 Ed Nelson explores the Y-K
delta by dog team. 1880 Akulmiut population is
336 1880 Moravians are scouting and
working on the Y-K delta. 1885 Moravian Church starts the
town of Bethel across from
Mamterillermiut. 1887 Paingaq requests a
Moravian church (denied). 1889 Moravians publish the
first Yup'ik dictionary. 1890 Tobbacco has become as
important to the Akulmiut as rifle ammo. 1890 Akulmiut population is
318 1890 Moravians making regular
visits to Akulmiut villages seeking
converts. 1894 Moravians ban the Mask
festival of the Yup'ik faith because it was not
Christian. 1896 Moravians bring a doctor
to the Bethel Mission. 1897 Poor salmon run leads to
hunger and starvation in the winter. 1900 Flu and Measles wipes out
Kuigaallermiut (Southeast of current
Nunapitchuk). 1900 Metal objects and guns
have replaced most traditional tools and
weapons. 1901 Moravians bring in
reindeer for project (175 animals). 1903 First Akulmiut business is
a trader at Nunacuaq. 1905 A Russian Orth. preist
went to Napaskiak and babtized everyone. 1907 Yup'ik shaman converts to
Moravian and helps convert many Akulmiut
also. 1908 First ocean-going ship
sails up Kuskokwim to Bethel. 1909 Reindeer split into 3
herds and total over 2,700. Some sold to
miners. 1910 Paingaq people hold 10
year feast of the dead cerimony against wishes of
church. 1910 Wooden canoe-like boats
begin replacing skin covered boats. 1913 Commercial salmon fishing
begins on the Kuskokwim. 1913 Small gold strike made on
the upper Kwethluk River. 1914 Kuskokwim channel is
charted for ships sailing to Bethel. 1916 Paingaq recieves a full
time Moravian Helper from the church. 1918 12 related people move
from Paingaq to Qaleqcuugtuli (1 mile from
Nunap.). 1918 Nanvarnarrlak gets a full
time Moravian Helper from the church. 1920 All the Qaleqcuugtuli and
about 18 others move up river a little to start
Nunapitchuk. 1920 Nunapitchuk (Nunapicuaq)
is started by survivors of disease
epidemic. 1920 Many Akulmiut families
begin going down to Kuskokwim to catch
salmon. 1920 Square stern wooden boats
with outboards becoming popular on
Kuskokwim. 1921 First Akulmiut school is
built in Nunacuaq. 1922 Every salmon run on the
Kuskokwim is nearly wiped out from
overfishing. 1923 Nanvarnarrlak requests a
Moravian church. 1925 Moravians build first
Akulmiut church in Nanvarnarrlak. 1926 First airplane lands in
Bethel. 1926 Strict rules and laws
begin to try and save the Kuskokwim
salmon. 1929 Moravians publish the
Gospel and Hymnal in Yup'ik (also used by Russian
Orth.). 1930 Frank Waskey (non-native)
traveled and trapped in Akulmiut
territory. 1930 Men begin to quit living
in qasgiq (men's house). 1930 Reindeer herding is
getting big in Akulmiut area. 1930 Some people get
snow-planes, but dogs are still primary
transportation. 1934 Moravian church built in
Nunapitchuk. 1934 School is taught in
Moravian church in Nunapitchuk. 1935 First year-round store is
started in Nunapitchuk. 1935 Some Nunapitchuk residents
begin to construct fish camps on the
Kuskokwim. 1937 Sam Anaruk (fluent Yup'ik)
was first teacher in Nunapitchuk (used Moravian
church). 1938 Some men from Nunapitchuk
start leaving every summer to work in
canneries. 1939 BIA school tries to get
the Nunacuaq people to move to
Nunapitchuk. 1939 First time an airplane
lands in Nunapitchuk (on river ice). 1940 First U.S. census of
Akulmiut, 6 villages and 1 community. 1940 From 1940 to 1950 Akulmiut
people start consolidating to Nunapitchuk &
Kasigluk. 1940 People of Cuukuagtuliq
start moving to Nunapitchuk. 1940 Hospital is built in
Bethel. 1940 Barge service for freight
and fuel begin to serve Akulmiut
villages. 1940 Reindeer herding is
dropping off because of low prices, difficulties,
and wolves. 1940 Akulmiut population is
401 1941 First school built in
Nunapitchuk (2 classrooms, BIA). 1945 Russian Orthodox builds a
church in Nunapitchuk. 1946 Nunacuaq abandoned because
of erosion. 1946 Nunacuaq people move down
stream to Kasigluk where others had
settled. 1950 Akulmiut population is
499 1950 The last of Nunacuarmiut
move to Kasigluk. 1950 Akulmuit people first
begin using money (currency/cash). 1950 Average annual income for
Yup'ik people is $913. 1951 Last stern wheeler on the
Kuskokwim retires (1934 - 1951). 1959 Alaska territory becomes
Alaska State. 1960 Akulmiut population is
571 1960 During the 1960's some
Nunapitchuk people begin building across the
river. 1961 Last family left in
Nanvarnarrlak finally moves to
Nunapitchuk. 1963 Kuskokwim Fisherman's
Cooperative is started. 1967 Kasigluk and Nunapitchuk
form the second class city of Akulmiut. 1968 Some Nanvarnarrlagmiut
moved from Nunapitchuk to start
Atmautluk. 1970 Akulmiut population is
526 1970 Fur prices drop, but
salmon prices increase. 1970 A Pentecostal church group
begins in Nunapitchuk. 1970 Snow machines gaining
popularity and begin to replace dog
teams. 1970 New plywood boats with
outboards have replaced wood plank
boats. 1971 First radio station (KYUK)
starts broadcasting on delta. 1972 New Moravian church is
built in Nunapitchuk. 1976 The state of Alaska takes
over local high school education. 1980 Akulmiut population is
826. 198- New Kasigluk is built, but
old Kasigluk remains as a semi-seperate
village. 1982 Akulmiut city is
dissolved. 1983 Kasigluk and Nunapitchuk
incorporate as seperate municipalities. 1985 Akulmiut population is
995 1985 Survey shows that old
Nunacuaq site is completely submerged. 1985 The state takes over all
schools (K - 12) from the BIA. 1985 New Russian Orthodox
church is built in Nunapitchuk. 1986 Airstrip is built near
Nunapitchuk. 1990 Aluminum boats begin
replacing wooden boats. 1995 Large new K-12 shool is
built in old Kasigluk. 1996 Large new K-12 school is
built in Nunapitchuk. 2001 Most people are hooked up to the flush-haul
water and sewer system. New boardwalks are built.
Several new houses are built for low income
families. I am preparing to move my family 30 miles south to Tuntutuliak, a similar village nearer the Kuskokwim River. |