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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 22 January 2020

At 90, Alaska Native woman will be 1st counted in U.S. Census

By MARK THIESSEN mail service is spotty in ru- strong Catholic faith, and
TOKSOOK BAY, Alaska ral Alaska and the internet told her son that she saved
(AP) — Lizzie Chimiugak connectivity unreliable, his life by praying over him
has lived for 90 years in the which makes door-to-door after he contracted polio.
windswept western wilds of surveying important. For her own hobbies, she
Alaska, born to a nomadic The rest of the nation, in- weaved baskets from grass
family who lived in mud cluding more urban areas and remains a member of
homes and followed where of Alaska, begin the census the Alaska Native dance
the good hunting and fish- in mid-March. group that will perform
ing led. On Tuesday, Steven Dilling- Tuesday, she dancing in
Her home now is an out- ham, director of the census her wheelchair.
post on the Bering Sea, Tok- bureau, will conduct the She taught children man-
sook Bay, and she is about first interview. Because of ners and responsibility and
to become the first person federal privacy laws, the continued the oral tradition
counted in the U.S. Cen- bureau won't even con- of telling them stories with a
sus, taken every 10 years to firm Chimiugak will be the storyknife.
apportion representation first person counted, even In this Monday, Jan. 20, 2020 image, Lizzie Chimiugak, right, Chimiugak used a knife in
in Congress and federal though it's the worst kept looks on at her home in Toksook Bay, Alaska. the mud to illustrate her sto-
money. secret in her hometown. Associated Press ries to school children. She
"Elders that were before me, After the count, a celebra- drew figures for people or
if they didn't die too early, tion is planned at Nelson fish and animals. She plans residents of nearby Night- homes. At the end of the
I wouldn't have been the Island School, and will in- to talk about it with others mute. There are five surviv- story, she'd use the knife
first person counted," Lizzie clude local Alaska Native at the celebration. ing children. to wipe away the pictures
Chimiugak said, speaking dancers and traditional "She's sad about the future," He worked maintenance at and start the next story with
Yup'ik language of Yugtun, food, which could include he eldest son Paul said. the airport and she did jani- a clean slate of mud.
with family members serv- seal, walrus, musk ox and Chimiugak was born just torial work at the old medi- "She's a great teacher, you
ing as interpreters. "Right moose. after the start of the Great cal clinic and babysat. know giving us reminders of
now, they're considering Robert Pitka, tribal adminis- Depression in the middle Like other wives, she how we're supposed to be,
me as an elder, and they're trator for Nunakauyak Tra- of nowhere in western cleaned fish, tanned hides taking care of subsistence
asking me questions I'm try- ditional Council, hopes the Alaska, her daughter Katie and even rendered seal oil and taking care of our fam-
ing my best to give answers takeaway message for the Schwartz of Springfield, Mis- after her husband came ily and respecting our par-
to, or to talk about what it rest of the nation is of Yup'ik souri, said. Lizzie was one of home from fishing or hunt- ents," her granddaughter
means to be an elder." pride. 10 siblings born to her par- ing. Her husband died Alice Tulik said. "That's how
The decennial U.S. census "We are Yup'ik people and ents, who lived a nomadic about 30 years ago. she would give us advice."
has started in rural Alaska, that the world will see that lifestyle and traveled with She is also a woman of q
out of tradition and neces- we are very strong in our two or three other families
sity, ever since the U.S. pur- culture and our traditions that would migrate togeth-
chased the territory from and that our Yup'ik lan- er, her son said.
Russia in 1867. The ground guage is very strong." Lizzie and her 101-year-old
is still frozen, which allows For Chimiugak, she has sister from Nightmute, Alas-
easier access before the concerns about climate ka, survive.
spring melt makes many change and what it might In 1947 Lizzie married
areas inaccessible to do to future generations George Chimiugak, and
travel and residents scat- of subsistence hunters and they eventually settled in
ter to subsistence hunting fishers in the community, Toksook Bay after the town
and fishing grounds. The and what it will do to the was founded in 1964 by