" I spent part of my summer up in Holy Cross fish camp with MIke Peters and his mom, Axenia Peters.

It was good being up there. I enjoyed it. The only thing different about their fish house compared to ours down here is that their fish racks are two to three times bigger and that allows you to cut more fish. I couldn't get over cutting 180 King salmon for strips alone! That was a lot of work. It took us a whole week to fill that size of fish house up with strips. And there were three of us women cutting the strips every time! I've never cut so many King salmon in my life!

My two younger kids were having fun too, because we would take them to check the net every time it had to be checked. At first they were scared but they got used to it and wanted to count the fish every time we went to check the net.

Right after checking the net, when we got to the shore we would head and gut the fish and then wait a few hours before slabbing them.

With the bellies we made eight buckets of salt fish. I had never made that much salt fish in my life.

It was a good subsistence season for everyone, I think. My kids and I enjoyed the fish camp very much. I might try it again next year if I don't have my own fish camp."

By: Gloria Fitka

Interviewed by: Gerilyn Fltka