Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: July 5th – John Fredson Day in Arctic Village
Today is a very special day. July 5th is more important for Arctic Village Gwich’in than July 4th. People in Venetie and Arctic Village call July 5th “John Fredson Day” and celebrate this day by making a big feast and playing together. John Fredson, a Gwich’in man knew that white people would soon want what Gwich’in valued the most: the land and animals. To protect Venetie and Arctic Village Gwich’in, he earned higher education and learned white people’s way. In 1938, he helped his people in Venetie and Arctic Village to gain 1.8 million acres of land under the Indian Reorganization Act.
“My brother, Albert, is cooking caribou heads at his house. It is a traditional meal we prepare for special occasions when available. Do you want to go there and see it?” said Sarah. “Of course!” I was excited about this opportunity because Gwich’in people are called “Caribou people” – their life is dependent on caribou. Primary habitat of the Porcupine Caribou Herd overlaps with the traditional homeland of the Gwich’in. I spent many hours at Sarah’s brother’s house and helped them prepare the heads. My job was to rotate the heads around the fire so that they are roasted evenly. Bertha, Albert’s partner said, “Miho, how much are you making per hour?” Everyone was laughing. I said, “A caribou head per hour!” I tried my first caribou in my life. They tasted delicious, especially the tongue. “Some people watch us and have a hard time to conceive our way. But this is who we are and what we do. We are caribou people. We cannot live without the animal. We go hunt them and use every part of the animal. We don’t waste anything – we respect the animals. We respect the land,” said Bertha. She taught me how each part of caribou is being used. Again, I was reminded how important it is to be open to other people’s way of life. Once I am in their element, I obey their customs.
Later, Bertha asked, “Miho, did you try the brain?” I said, “Not yet.” She said, “Do you want to try it?” I said, “Of course!” – it tasted like crab brain, which I was accustomed to eat in Japan, minus the flavor of the sea.
Bertha also talked about her friend who has been through chemotherapy. After chemo, She only craved for certain kind of Gwich’in delicate food such as intestine of caribou cooked on fire. This is a delicacy that people eat first when they kill caribou in the field. That was the only food she could eat. After that, she started eating again. “Caribou is our comfort food. When we get sick, this teaches us to go back to our own food and not white food in the hospital.”
It makes a total sense.
