;)
It was a most interesting day at the Arctic Development summit, as Iñupiat whalers and oil company execs got together to express very different viewpoints on whether or not there should be oil exploration and development in the Chukchi Sea. It was a frank, but also very civil and respectful exchange.
Last night, the sound of the Chukchi's largest and most powerful resident, the bowhead whale, filled the gym at the Eskimo dance that followed the day's summit sessions. See the skins on the drums? They come from the stomach lining of the whale, which is the way Point Hope drummers still make them.
Many drummers use nylon these days, but not Point Hope. In Point Hope, they keep their dances close to the whale.
;)
This is Phyllis Frankson, dancing to the sound of the bowhead whale.
;)
Drummer Ron Oviok, a veteran of the Iditarod sled dog race. I haven't the time right now, but I hope to post some kind of explanation of the Arctic Development Summit Sunday night, so it will be ready for viewing Monday morning.
If I can do so, I will try to follow it up with some of the subsistence hunting essays that I have done lately, but have had no time to post. I have been kind of frustrated about not having the time to post any of these stories, but to have them come after the summit will add context.
If I can find the time. This summer streams past me, fast, with no breaks between one event to the next.