Death in the Village

I know that's kind of a morbid title, but it's what I've been doing for the past week.  And it has been taking a lot of my time and energy.  My aide and friend, Stella, her sister-in-law Malea died.  It's a very sad story that Malea's husband died unexpectedly last year from stomach problems and Malea has been fighting cancer for a couple years.  She came home from Anchorage about 2 weeks ago because the doctors said there was nothing left for them to do for her.  She had four children: the oldest girl, a boy at boarding school, a 6th grade boy here in EMO, and a four-year-old boy.  It was the worst to watch those kids go through this.

Stella texted me Sunday night at 3:40am saying that Malea had passed a couple hours ago.  It has hit us hard in the village because she was a very strong and wonderful woman.  I took food over to them on Tuesday and talked for a few short minutes.  The custom in the village is that the family has 3 days of viewing in the home with the body and then the funeral is on the 4th days.  Then they bury the body and have an eskimo dance.

I begged my principal to allow me to go to the funeral because of how close I am to the family.  There were many teachers and aides already asking to go, but I felt it was right for me to go because I'm close with the siblings of Malea, even though I didn't teach the children.  In the end, I was able to go to half of the funeral.  The principals took turns going and I went for the second half.  After school, I took food over to Ray and Lauri's house again (Stella's parents-where everyone was meeting and eating everyday).  They insisted that I stayed and ate with them.  They then asked me if I was going to bury the body the next day. I explained that I had to work and that I felt it was just for family.  They told me that I could take the day off and that anyone was welcome.  They encouraged me to come.  So, in the end, I took a half day off of work and helped Stella get ready and headed out with them.

This is Malea's middle son and two of her sister-in-laws (Stella is the one on the right).

Stella's husband, David, and their niece

Malea's family

We had an Eskimo dance on Thursday night.  It was beautiful.  Then I went over to Stella's house to help her cook for the dinner the next day at camp.  I didn't get to bed until about 12:30am.  Then I woke up at 8am to give a couple of students some tests before I was going to head over to Stellas.  I ended up staying at work until 11am putting out fires and helping everyone with stuff.  So, I only took a half day.  I then headed over to Stella's house with all my snow, winter, and rain gear for the trip.  Her kids kept looking at me on the couch like I was a zombie.  She gave me her cold so I was feeling like crap already.

We headed off to camp at around 1pm.  We took boats (probably about 10 in all).  I rode with Stella, her husband David, her brother Zeke, and her sons Cunnie, Coco, and Stephen.  I sat toward the front of the boat so it was pretty bumpy and now my body aches...urgh.  We got to camp and got right to work.  The women were getting the food and things sorted out while the men walked over to the grave site.

We stopped halfway to camp to take a break...I think it was a smoking break...

Stella's boys...David, Stephen, Cunnie, and Coco

Stella's brother Zeke.  This is the first time I met Zeke (he doesn't come around a lot) and he is deaf.  I thought I knew a lot of simple sign language and that I could get by...I learned how much I really DON'T know.  They said they'd teach me:).

Getting to camp

It was about 10 men/boys taking turns digging the grave for about an hour.  As soon as they were done, they came into the house, warmed up a little, and then we all went down for the burial.  I took pictures for the family so that I can give them a memory.  It was very touching to watch it all.  There were probably 50 people there.  Between her oldest son standing in the background, her middle son helping to dig, and her youngest son (4) helping to bury her with a racket that he found, it was all very touching.  She now lies next to her husband, Hondo.

I don't know who is in the back (I can't see their face).  But I was moved to see Malea's middle boy watching his cousins dig his mom's grave.  It was a very moving experience.  Cunnie and Rudy are helping here.

More pictures of them digging.

It was very humbling to watch them bury her.  In Michigan, the grave is dug out when you get there, there is a rug to stand on, a mechanism to help lower the body into the ground...it's much more smooth.  In the bush, I was able to see the family work as a team to dig by hand and shovel, put a tarp around the inside of the grave, have her nephews and brothers put her casket into a box, watch her sons and daughter screw the box shut, see them put rope around the bottom of the box, and watch them work as a team to move her into the grave and lower her down.  Then the whole family (including myself when I was told I had to) throw dirt on her grave to help bury her.  It was very moving and humbling.

Lowering the casket into the box

Covering the casket

Malea's daughter screwed the first screw

Then her middle son

Then her oldest son

Her oldest son placed the cross/marker at the grave

Then they started lowering the casket

And worked as a team

And lowered it down

Everyone threw in a handful of dirt

Her sons and nephews helping to fill the grave

Her littlest son was fun to watch and it was great to have that memory for the family of him helping to bury his mother.

Malea's family

We then ate at the house, cleaned up, and were on our way back home.  On our way back, we saw a seal.  There were about 8 boats chasing it.  It was AMAZING to watch the Natives chase seal in their customs.  To see them work together, the determination on their faces, and to see how fun it was for them.  I loved it.  By far, it was my favorite thing I've done here yet.  I say that, but then I think of everything else.  It's amazing to see everything. :)  Every new experience is another great day.

Stephen, Coco, and Cunnie chasing seal

There were a bunch of boats

The boys hunting

Throwing a spear

Other boats are ready to chase

Some Powerpoints to Help Understand... :)

WHAT DID I DO TONIGHT?! What Did YOU Do Tonight?!

I CUT UP A MOOSE.  Yup.  You read right.  I have cut up a brisket of a moose.  (is it the chest or the back bone or what?)  Stella told me at work today that Cunnie (my student who graduated last year) caught a moose last night.  His FIRST moose.  Yay!!!!  So she wants to know what meat I want.  "I told him that he better give some to Miss Chomic or she'll be pissed."  And right she is! :) The tradition is that they have to give away their first moose.  So, I said I would make roasts and stuff, so whatever.  Maybe 2 or whatever.  She said that wasn't enough.  She'd give me 6.  Okay, as long as I'm not taking too much away from anyone else.

Cut to Cunnie texting me at 4pm asking me where I was.  I told him I was still helping students and I was wondering if he could bring it by around 6pm.  He said that was okay.

Cut to 6:04pm and Cunnie is calling me.  I was at school helping kids still.  I answer the phone: "I'm coming!  I'm late!  I'm sorry!  Don't take my moose meat away from me!"  I ran to my house from school, turned the corner, and stopped dead in my tracks.  Cunnie is standing in front of my house with a garbage bag with a bone/leg/meat/ew sticking out of it... "What is that?" Cunnie told me that it was my moose meat.  "Oh. Um, is it a leg?"  He informed me that it was a brisket.  "Oh. Thank you Cunnie."  Cunnie leaves.

Before...The Moose Meat I was given...

Cut to me taking the bag into my house, putting it in the back porch and immediately calling Laura.  "Help.  Please come help me.  I have a hunk of a moose and I don't know what to do.  I have part of a dead moose in my house.  Help."  Laura: "I'll be right there."

We get out the cardboard, get the moose meat, and look at it.  It's covered in mud, grass, and moose hair.  Which is worse?  Dead moose or all the things I'm afraid of being on me: mud, grass, and hair?  Laura started cutting, and I "helped."

Laura-the savior of moose meat

After the first piece, it was all me.  I was cutting, I was washing, I was cleaning, I was separating... I rocked it. 

First cuts

I'm getting it...

And I've got the hang of it!

However, we needed to break down this 3 foot long brisket... CUNNIE!!! So we're weak, I was scared, and we didn't know what we were doing. We called Stella for support. She said we could get Cunnie back. I called him to come back.  After 5 calls, he finally shows up.  So he came (finally) to help us cut up the bones. I bet him $10 he couldn't cut through the bone. How was I to know that he had a Magutcher Eskimo way to feel where the weak spots were and he'd be able to figure things out? Yeah, lost 10 bucks... Darn Natives and their awesome ways...
 

Cunnie breaking bones...Don't ever REALLY make this kid angry...

All in all, it was an experience.  All in all, I feel like I'm even farther into the culture.  Laura told Cunnie before he left that the next moose I had to help cut up with skin on...No.  He said he agreed.  Urgh... :p 

After :)  It's all in the freezer and ready to eat

Thanks

Mom and Dad sent me a couple of packages over the past few weeks.  I just wanted to take a minute to say, "Thank you."  The greatest part by far was the food that you sent up for the kids.  They were so grateful!  They have been asking for them constantly, so we've had to go over the rules a few times of when they're allowed the food (when they didn't get breakfast, when it's a bit before lunch, and when they're hungry a while after lunch).  They're so thankful.  We'll probably FaceTime with you soon for the thanks.

I REALLY appreciate the socks that you sent.  I've been meaning to get more tall socks for when I'm wearing my boots.  They are perfect!  (Is there anyway you would be going back and able to get some more...:) Remember: You love me...) And the MSU Socks were awesome!  I'm waiting to wear them until they play again. 

I've put up the pictures of the Chomic kids all over the house.  It's exciting to feel like you guys are here.  I wish you could come by and see where I live and how the village works.  It sucks to think about the fact that you can't get the exact feel of the village.  It's amazing here.

I finally got my dance fans yesterday!  Laura's mentor from last year is Katie's mentor this year.  I gave her some money last year to buy some for me, but she never found some.  She finally gave some to Katie last week to give to me so I could have them.  They're awesome!  Mock said she made a pair of men's dance fans, too.  So I'll be able to show those too!  I'm excited for them!

I had gotten the box with the Red Wings Starter Jacket in it the other day.  A bunch of the high school boys were working in my room for study hall.  They looked in it and asked what it was.  I said that you had sent up some coats and if they needed any they could have it.  "A" took it immediately, put it on, and was so excited.  However, the other four want ones now.  If there are more back home, send them please!  I told them there were some in the counselor's office that have been sent up, but I don't know if they've checked.  I was excited "A" got it because whenever we would go to the coast last winter, he would wear a sweatshirt and a thin coat that was ripping a lot.  He's going to be so much warmer!  His dad called me a couple days later to thank me for the coat.  I had completely forgotten about it.  It was nice that they appreciated it and it wasn't going to waste.

Laura and I went to Pool Hall tonight for dinner.  We met some of the graduates there and ate with them.  Then Sister challenged me to a game of pool.  I won, but only because she scratched the 8 ball.  The kids here rock at pool.  But think about it: it's the only thing they can possibly do here in the village consistently.  It's fun to watch them make the shots.  I want to incorporate it into the math lessons.

Laura, Katie, and I had a "dinner and a show" night last night.  Laura made Sweet and Sour Chicken with rice, Katie made a Pumpkin Angle Food Cake with Cream Cheese, and I supplied the wireless access for 2 episodes of Grey's Anatomy Season Premier. :)  It was fun.  Katie stayed late, so we didn't want her walking home alone.  So I walked her home and then walked back.  I knew I'd run into kids on the way home.  It was nice to see them out.  I saw 3 of the graduates from last year and some that I hadn't talked to in a while.  So we chatted for a while.

I give makeup HSGQE's next week Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  So, once again, I won't have a consistent schedule that I feel like I'm able to get through to my kids.  Urgh.  Oh well, I'm excited to have the kids try to pass it again.  They have to pass the HSGQE (High School Graduate Qualifying Exam) in order to pass high school.  So we start them in 10th grade and then they get 4 more tries in high school and they can keep trying afterwards.  I have 4 taking it next week.

The New School

It's coming along! The school looks amazing and we're getting so excited. It's amazing to think about how new and awesome out school will be next year. Tom took Laura and me on a tour of it again yesterday. It's awesome. I think I'm going to make the workers lunch sometime next week. They are amazing!

Look at how much they have gotten done!

First Snow

It's happened. It has been lightly snowing here for a couple days. When I walked out of my house Monday morning, this is what I saw...

It's official. We have snow in Alaska. It didn't stick. It's gone again. It's fun to watch the newbies with snow. Today I got out my parka. It's cold! It came in handy. We had another fire scare today. I was ready! All of the kids were jealous!

Sunday was Mock's birthday (she's the one who made me all the beautiful Eskimo stuff). We had lunch with her nephew (also his birthday) and then watched some movies. She really appreciates the gifts mom and dad got her (it came the day before her birthday!). She thanks you very much. 

We have no school Thursday or Friday due to inservice. So, I don't have to go anywhere this year for inservice, just VTC. I am now doing a lot of posts on my phone through blogger app. If you have an iPad or iPhone, it's a good one to have so you could easily check the blog. Only a suggestion!

Water and Internet Are back!

We received news today that the water is safe to drink again. Yay!

I was also able to have my nice friend, Sam, set up my Internet when he was here last week. So I have Internet at home now. :) 

We were all entertained by Sam putting my Internet together. 

It was definitely a bush job. He held it in place with cable wire. :)

I've been a bit sick since last week. I finally got into the clinic and they have me sinus infection medicine...Ew. So I'm hoping I feel better for tomorrow. I didn't do well at work today and I really don't want to leave my kids. We have a lot of people out of work right now. 

We had a fire at school today. It was a little scary but everyone got out okay. It was a fire started in a trash can. It was able to just be contained to that and didnt get out of the can. I was luckily that I was by my student who has a physical disability. We had to carry her down the stairs because we don't have a ramp out the exit that was closest to her. But I didn't care. She was getting out of that building! Everything turned out great and I was proud of the kids for doing well even though we hadnt practiced how to get out yet.