Steve Oomittuk of Tikigaq - a seeker of the history and knowledge of this people; Reggie and Sam the cat
Tuesday, June 14, 2011 at 8:00PM 
This is my friend Steve Oomittuk with the dance mask that he wore in a performance at the 2009 Kivgiq in Barrow. There are stories in the mask, including the five whales a new captain must land before he gains full status as a true captain. Most observers can probably identify the tail of the whale in the mask, but probably few other than the people of the whale could identify the bowhead head and mouth as depicted in the chin.
Steve envisioned how he wanted the mask to look, sketched it out and then gave the sketch to his brother, master sculpture Othneil Oomittuk, better known as "Art," who then carved it for him.
Point Hope is one of the oldest if not the oldest continually occupied community on the continent. After summer and fall storms, Steve will often walk the beaches along the ancient site of Ipiutak and other nearby places that predate US history and will gather up artifacts that the storm has unearthed from the eroding beach.
These are a few of items that he has found.
A fossilized ivory artifact the age of which must be at least a couple of thousand years, judging from where he found it. Steve also spends much time reading the books and works of the archeaologists and anthropologists who have studied his home, both those who came shortly after contact and those who have come in his time.
When he was young, he listened to the stories of the Elders and still seeks to learn all that he can, from whomever and whatever source he can.
It troubles him to think of his culture ever being lost - not just that of the Arctic Slope Iñupiat as a whole, but of Point Hope in particular - Tikigaq being a unique and special place, even in Alaska.
A fossilized ivory artifact that appears to be an arrow point.
Steve makes many sketches of his life and sometimes his grandchildren get hold of them and add their own touch.
Steve and his granddaughter give me a ride on his four-wheeler.
I do not find a cat in every village that I visit, but I am always glad when I do. This is Sam the cat, with Reggie Oviok. Sam migrated from California upon the back of goose, but is a Tikigaq cat now.
I might have made that part about the goose up.
Reader Comments (9)
absolutely priceless photos, bill. they belong in a book. i sure hope the culture can be perpetuated. the artistry is tremendous, as is the whole whaling culture. am gonna share this w/some FB friends.
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! Ha ha lol.. I really tried to envision the cat on a goose.. sily silly Bill! Really hope you and your wife.. and your grands get to come up for WEIO!!
It has been my experience that the seekers of history and knowledge, especially people of unique and beautiful cultures are very special and truely amazing messengers.......crayons always add to the greatest of masterpieces.
Absolutely LOVE the made-up portions of your posts! They always make me giggle. The rest of the posts are wonderful as well.
wonderful artifacts..i like the cat very much
Wait...you make stuff up? Okay. The part about the Mahoney horses...
Thanks for passing on Steve's knowledge, Bill.
All - I appreciate it and thank you.
Debby - Every word that I have ever written about the Mahoney horses is true and verifiable...
"inevitably...artifacts and art of the Arctic will be harbored in an archive, accessed by a higher technological preservation that will allow viewers a 3D viewing in clear high resolution not as yet realized by our current progress. All of the museums are not user friendly in this way to view these wonders of Arctic ivories and it is permissible for the private sector to collect, preserve provenance and offer to the world at an interest...better than a museum! Museums maintain most of the artifacts in vaults out of sight and enlist only archaeologists and students access. Within my personal research, I have stumbled upon extraterrestrial contact with the Arctic Bering and Chukchi Inuit groups 3000 year distant. Do access my findings, I have five blogs all being updated...continuously"