Excerpted From Alaska Department of Fish and Game Technical Paper No. 28, March 1981

Household Interviews

General Resource Utilization--

Among those people interviewed who have hunted caribou, not everyone relied solely on caribou for their total supply of meat. Rather, in recent years, they have relied on a wide variety of wild and store-bought resources. With regard to the wild resources, reliance has been on whatever has been most abundant at any particular time in the Copper River area. Fish was indicated by all but one household as being part of the annual household food supply. The importance of fish in the household varied from being eaten twice a day to once a week. Most of those people interviewed either owned a fishwheel or had access to someone who did. Other species mentioned as being used whenever they could be gotten were hares, muskrats, beaver, grouse, and moose. Muskrats and beaver are highly prized food items, and hare is used in large quantities.

Everyone stated that meat was the most important part of their diet, and that it was valued socially above all other foods. All households stated meat, especially moose, was difficult to get this past year (1980) as well as during the past few years. Those problems were most frequently related to the large numbers of outside hunters in the area competing for the game.

In order to get at least some meat in their diet, most households have had to buy some meat either in Glennallen or Anchorage. Reliance on this source depends upon the amount of income available to divert from other obligations. Some people stated that no matter what happened, they would always get game meat and would never buy meat in the store (particularly referring to cow meat).

In all cases where people shot a large animal (caribou or moose) they shared it with other people in the community. Particularly, the older people were the recipients of meat. The older people expressed an attachment to meat greater than did younger people. The younger people who were able to do something else to get meat such as buy it, said they would rather do that than risk a violation.

Seasonal Patterns of Resource Utilization--

The time related to here is the late 1800s and early 1900s, and the information comes from the experiences of interviewees, themselves, and the stories told to them by their parents. At that time, the major villages were at Chitina and Ewan Lake/Gulkana areas.

The older people were asked to recall whatever they could about their early days and the seasonal patterns of hunting, fishing, and gathering. Gathering food, especially for the winter months, started with spring salmon. People would move to the river fish camps in May and June. Using traps, and more recently fish wheels. They caught salmon of all species. The fish were cut into large fillets and strips then dried or smoked. The fish were then bundled up and brought back to the village for storage.

In late summer, berries were gathered in large quantities and stored in bark containers in cold places in the ground. Following the fishing and berry picking, usually, groups of people would head out to hunt, depending on the area in which they lived, sheep and goats in the Chitina area; and caribou in the Ewan Lake/Gulkana area. Wherever they managed to kill a large animal, they would set up a camp where they processed the meat by cutting it up and drying it for transport back to the village.

The methods used in preserving fish and meat were drying and smoking. With fish, people would boil the heads for the oil that they saved and later used to dip the dried meat. Usually, the fillets were prepared with the skin left on. Dried moose and caribou meat was kept until needed, than boiled to be reconstituted and eaten in stews. Considered delicacies were moose joints, which were boiled for hours, then cracked, and the marrow eaten. All parts of the animal were used for some specific purpose. Hides of moose were used extensively in making moccasins, mattresses, and mittens. Particularly, caribou was used in mittens, and the hair left on and used on the backside of the mittens. Hides of other animals were used as trim for garments, particularly hare, weasel, and mink. Much of this same use continues today to lesser extent than in earlier days. Many people today rely on their skills of making crafts from animal products for a supplement to their annual income.

Use of the Animal Killed--

All the households were asked to explain how they used the meat and other items they got from the caribou or moose. Except for four, all households had not gotten any caribou in many years. Most had gotten some caribou or moose from friends or family. All the meat was said to be used for the household's consumption. All parts of the animal were used by most of the households; if not by that household specifically, then the parts were given to other people. Parts of the animal were not said to be used for baits or dog food, or just thrown away as a general practice. The antlers were the only portions not used extensively; however, several people did use pieces for buttons or knife handles. The bones are cut up and put into soups; while those people who dry meat use it also in soups. Some freeze the meat or smoke it. Hides were said to be used for clothing, crafts, mattresses, and snowshoes.

Percent of Household Meat from Game--

Five of the eighteen people interviewed relied solely on store-bought meat. Everyone, 13 households, relied upon wild game anywhere from 50 percent to 100 percent. Those who relied solely on wild meat used a variety of species to fill their needs. In the past, some people had been able to get road kills, but had not gotten meat from that source in several years. Those people who did not get a large animal relied upon most of the small game species and fish. A few people said they relied entirely on fish. One family used over two hundred fish per year for a family of eleven. Two households purchase some of their meat in Anchorage, but try to get muskrats and beaver and use forty to fifty salmon per year.

Do You Hunt for Other People--

In the old days, the hunting effort and harvest was always shared among everyone in the family or the community. Where sheep and goat hunting took place, people would go out in parties, kill the animal, cut it up and haul it back to the village where it was divided up among everyone who needed it. This was especially common in the Chitina area. In other areas where a large animal was shot, a group of people would go out and bring the neat back to be divided within the village. In particular, the meat was given to the older people; but it was also used to repay debts. Some people with large families stated they hunted primarily for their immediate family and didn't give meat to others. Some people said they did not hunt, but got meat or hides from other people. In Gulkana, everyone stated that if they hunted and got a moose or caribou, some meat was given away.

Hunting specifically for other people who had a permit was not mentioned, but there were only two people among those interviewed who had received permits. Hunting for other people was commonly mentioned as the reason for going out. Especially, for the older people and family members who could not hunt.

Caribou Hunting - Times and Places--

He asked in what places and during which times were caribou hunted, people responded with a variety of answers. There are families who recall always having gone after caribou while other families remember caribou hunting as an occasional, opportunistic event. People in the Gulkana and Chistochina areas most commonly referred to the regular caribou hunt. People in Copper Center and south of there mentioned it less frequently. Although people in Chitina recalled having crossed the Copper River many years ago to hunt caribou which moved into the Kotsina area. As to the times when people hunted caribou, they referred to that period after harvesting fish in the late summer and fall. It was also stated as an opportunistic thing where if you could get a chance at one, you took it. In December and late winter as meat reserves ran low, there were groups which went out to hunt caribou. Again, this was done on an as-needed basis.

Regarding times when hunting caribou would be best, responses were varied. Most people said hunting in the fall would be good. Everyone indicated that if there were hunting in the late winter, as there once was, that the animals would be fat and that would be a good time. Because of the concern for sex ratios harvested in a late season, the question was posed as to which animals would be shot. Most people responded the bulls would be taken. Largely, it depended upon what would be allowed to be shot. But when asked how they would distinguish between cows and bulls in late winter, there was some confusion as to how the animals could be identified. One household did respond with the fact that many of the old people did like the unborn calves, and that some people might prefer a cow for that reason. Generally, it was felt that people would take whatever they got a shot at if there was no restriction. Were a bulls only restriction placed on a season, it would be necessary to inform everyone of the methods of identification. As for more recent years, the older people could remember during the 1930s of hunting with their fathers and grandfathers. The times hunted were in the fall after fishing or in the late winter as people needed meat. The Paxson area was the most heavily hunted. Most people recall having hunted in the area between Sourdough and Paxson and usually along the road. In the late 1920s, people from Chitina drove up to the Paxson area to hunt for several days. They would go with several people and get enough meat for several families. . . .

General Comments--

In the late 1800s, there used to be many moose. Then, there was a large starvation. Large wolf packs of 40 or so would come down the river and kill everything. Moose were scarce in the 1920s and 30s. In 1923 and 24, there was the Willow Creek fire. After this burn was over in 1925, the first caribou came into the area near Chitina. They were in the Kotsina area in 1930. . . .

After statehood, things really changed. Fish and game laws changed and made it very difficult to get food during traditional times of the year. Many people had to move to get jobs in order to buy food. The regulations and availability of outside jobs changed peoples' diets, and this affected their health. Alcoholism became more common, destroyed family bonds, as did deviating from seasonal fishing and hunting. Self-image got very bad, and people resorted to bad habits. People in the early days were not as sick as today. . . .

Elderly people should really be the first ones to get the opportunity since they miss the wild game meat the most. They really don't like the taste of beef. They can't get used to it. My mother would rather eat fish and rabbits and does so now. Some days, older people won't eat at all because they don't feel they are getting what they need from the store-bought foods. The general health and well being are really effected by not getting the foods they are accustomed to. . . .

Many people who are retired or work only part time use the game and fish to get them through the year. Those people who aren't working, or how have low incomes should get preference. We grew up with this food and crave it before any store-bought foods. Not everyone has the same degree of dependence on the wild animals. The use of wild met and salmon is something learned and taught traditionally. Sharing meat among the people of a village is always practiced. Especially, it is given to people who caan't get it like the old or women. Meat is a major part of the diet, "ya got no meat, ya got nothing.". . .