Pauline
Duncan's Tlingit Curriculum Resources - Books
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An Alaskan Herring Spawn
10 Sitka Herring
by: Pauline Duncan, Sitka, Alaska © May
2001
Students Cultural Standards met;
A-1 Practice their traditional responsibilities to the surrounding
environment.
C-1 Perform subsistence activities that are appropriate to local
cultural traditions.
E-8 Identify and appreciate who they are and their place in the
world.
Educators Cultural Standards met:
A-4 Provide opportunities for students to learn through observation
and hands-on demonstration of cultural knowledge of skills.
A-6 Involve themselves in learning about the local cultures.
B-1 Regularly engages students in appropriate activities.
B-3 Provide integrated learning activities, organized around themes of local
significance and across subject areas.
B-5 Seek to ground all teaching in a constructive process, built on a local
cultural foundation.
Curriculum Cultural Standards met:
A-5 Provides opportunities for students to study all subjects
starting from a base in the local knowledge system.
Community Cultural Standards met:
C-5 Provides opportunities for all community members to acquire
and practice the appropriate knowledge and skills associated
with local cultural traditions.
D-3 Adopts the adage, "It takes the whole village to raise
a child."
E-2 Encourages teachers to make use of facilities and expertise in the community
to demonstrate that education is a community-wide process, involving everyone
as teachers.
E-4 Attempts to articulate the cultural knowledge, values and beliefs that
it wishes teachers to incorporate into the school curriculum.
F-1 takes an active part in the development of the mission, goals and content
of the local educational program.
Alaska Standards for Culturally Responsive Schools,
published by the Alaska Native Knowledge Network, 1998.
Alaska Standards
Mathematics
A-2 Select and use appropriate systems, units, and tools of
measurement, including estimation.
A-4 Represent, analyze, and use mathematical patterns, relations and functions,
using methods such as tables, equations, and graphs.
B-6 Use common sense to help interpret results.
B-7 Apply what was learned to new situations.
B-8 Use mathematics with confidence.
C-1 Express and represent mathematical ideas using oral and written presentations,
physical materials, pictures, graphs, charts, and algebraic expressions.
E-2 Use mathematics in daily life.
E-3 Use mathematics in other curriculum areas.
English/Language Arts
B-1 Comprehend meaning from written text and oral and visual
information by applying a variety of reading, listening and
viewing strategies; these strategies include phonic, context,
and vocabulary cues in reading, critical viewing, and active
listening.
E-1 Use information, both oral and written, and literature of many types and
cultures to understand self and others.
Science
A-7 Understand how the earth changes because of plate tectonics,
earthquakes, volcanoes, erosion and deposition, and living
things. (process that shape the earth)
A-15 Use science to understand and describe the local environment.
D-1 Apply scientific knowledge and skills to understand issues and everyday
events.
Government and Citizenship
C-4 Understand the importance of the historical and current
roles of Alaska Native communities.
E-1 Know the important characteristics of citizenship
G-5 Understand how jobs are created and their role in the economy.
The
Sitka Herring Spawn
A book about Sitka, Alaska's Herring Spawn.
Listen
to Tlingit Numbers
Tlingit numbers you
will learn to count!
1 Tléix'
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2 Déix
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3 Nás'k
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4 Daax'oon
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5 Keiji'n
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6 Tleidooshú
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7 Daxadooshú
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8 Nas' gadooshú
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9 Gooshúk
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10 Jinkaat
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Tlingit Creatures
Tlingit ocean creatures
you will get to know!
*Singular-Yaaw
*Plural Yaaw'x
Salmon
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Xáat
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Crab
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S'aaw
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Sea Lion
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Taan
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Bull Head
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Wéix
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Halibut
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Cháatl
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Devil Fish
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Ná akw
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Eel
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Lóot'
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Red Snapper
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Leik'w
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Shark
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Tóos'
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The herring spawn is an
important cultural event of Sitka and other native communities
of Alaska, that usually occurs in March or April. Just
before the spawn, mother nature sends out many signals
to let everyone know that the herring are on the way.
The eagles, sea gulls and ravens can be seen all over
the area on trees, beaches and out on the water. Sea
life is very apparent, with the sea lions, seals and
whales, all visible and ready to take their share of
herring.
During this time, one can never predict the weather.
One minute the sun is out, and then, suddenly there are
showers of rain, or the snow comes down in large feather-like
flakes. The spring snow usually melts as soon as it falls
to the ground. The natives believe that nature is helping
the herring by getting the temperature of the water just
right so the herring will spawn.
Written records corrobaroate the oral history and document
the history of herring spawn harvest by Tlingits living
in the Sitka Sound area or coming from home communities
for the harvest. (Kookesh,Schroeder, October 1989) Marchand
visited Sitka as part of his 1790-92 voyage (Fleurieu,
1969) and wrote; The principle food of the natives of
Tchinkitanay (Sitka) is fish, fresh or smoked, the dried
spawn of fish,of which they make a sort of cake, and
the flesh of the animals that they kill.
Captain Richard Cleveland visited Sitka Sound on a trading
voyage in 1799. He mentioned two groups of indians present
in the sound on April 2 (Dearmond).. The following morning,
the natives came soon after daylight and began without
hesitation to dispose of these furs to us.... Our linguist
recognized them to be the Hoodsnahoo tribe (Kootznahoo
Inlet or Angoon Tlingit), who had come thus early to
the coast to get a supply of the spawn of a certain fish
(herring) which constitutes their principal food in the
spring of the year. As this tribe had attacked the cutter
last year, alone, we thought it not improbable that.
now that they were united with the Norfolk Sound tribe
(refers to Tlingits in Sitka Sound), they might determine
to make another attempt.
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Krause arrived on a field trip to Sitka on April 25,1882
and reported, Everywhere along the beach I see fisheggs
(herring eggs) being dried on strings hung up between
poles. Some fisheggs are spread on rocks and cloths (Krause
1883xxx) In April the herring come to the shores in countless
numbers to spawn, depositing their eggs in the sea grass,rockweed,
and on the bushes hanging in the water. At this time
the Indians plant hemlock twigs at the lowwater mark,
where they become covered with spawn,after which they
are gathered in canoe loads. The spawn is heaped upon
the twigs, to which it adheres in grapelike clusters,
which are sometimes called "Alaska grapes," and is consumed
by the natives in large quantities,either fresh or dried,
and cooked as occasion demands, and for winter use. Usually
it is eaten with rancid oil, which is the sauce that
goes with all their delicacies,even the berries. (Moser
1899)
Now, sad to say, the herring spawn has turned into a
commercial venture for a limited number of permit holders
with large boats, the majority of which are not from
Sitka, and many that are not even from Alaska. The news
media and other agencies have shifted the focus from
a cultural celebration to how much money the herring
will be worth on the foreign market.
When the commercial herring fishing started in Sitka,
the quota was usually picked up in less than an hour.
In more recent years, however, sometimes the fishing
will last for a week or longer and still not catch what
they used to in that hour. Before it became a commercial
venture there was herring spawn all over the beaches.
The eggs were so thick one could barely walk through
them. To prevent over-fishing, agencies were monitoring
other areas; Juneau, Ka Shakes, and Ketchikan. Even so.
these areas are now closed to herring fishers, due to
a decline in the spawn.
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Click on image for a big graphic
Listen
to Tlingit 10 Sitka Herring
Gathering Herring Eggs
1)
Go out and cut down hemlock trees.
(Be sure to thank the tree for giving itself.)
2) Set the tree out in the water with an anchor.
3) When lowering the tree, give thanks to the herring for providing
your family and friends with this special food.
4) Leave the tree 1-3 days (depending on how many eggs you would like
on the branch.
5) Lift the trees onto the boat, cut up the branches and take home.
Eggs can be dried, salted, or frozen.
To Dry Eggs;
- Put branches with the eggs attached up on a tree to dry.
- Bring the branches inside in the evening to prevent them collecting
dewdrops.
- Continue bringing out or putting in a covered area until eggs are
dried.
- When drying process is complete, eggs can be
stored in an airtight container or card board box.
For Salted Herring Eggs;
- In a wooden barrel or container, put alternate layers of salt and
herring egg branches.
- Eggs can be stored for a long time.
- When ready to eat the eggs, rinse out the salt
and cook as if there were fresh.
Frozen Herring Eggs;
- Herring eggs are cut into smaller portions and put into freezer.
- Herring eggs will stay up to a year in the freezer.
- When ready to eat the eggs, thaw out in a bucket of salt water
from the ocean. (Thawing out in salt water helps the eggs to thaw
out faster and if the eggs have sand in them, it will soak out of
the eggs while thawing.
Cooking Herring Eggs;
- Heat-up water (not boiling), dip herring eggs and branches into
the water and take right out. Eggs are ready to eat.
- Serve with melted butter, seal, eulachon oil, or soy sauce.
- Save leftovers to eat cold or in a herring egg salad.
Herring Facts;
- There are 180 species of herring
- Average size is 9-18 inches
- Male releases milt to fertilize eggs
- Herring spawn every year
- Herring are very important to the food chain
- Average number of eggs released by a single herring is 20,000.
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- They are blue-green on the upper body
- They spawn during spring
- Eggs hatch in 2 weeks
- Herring migrate in schools
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Use Your 5 Senses During The Sitka Herring
Spawn
Sensory Awareness
Sight-See the white brine on the surface of
the water. Look at all the boats, waiting.
See the planes and helicopters watching overhead.
Sound-Listen to the sea gulls, eagles and ravens speaking aloud. Airplanes
are flying.
Boats are busy checking out the spawn. Cars are driving to go out to see the
spawn.
Families are laughing and visiting with one another.
Smell-The smell of salt water, fish smell aroma all over the beach and
close to the village. The smell of herring cooking. Yum!
Taste-Herring eggs taste crunchy, salty, and slippery.
The herring tastes like trout, but better. The meat is soft and sweet.
Touch-Slippery, slimy, trees are sharp, hemlock needles are soft.
Boat is hard.
What season of the year does the spawn usually
occur?
4 Seasons in Tlingit
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Circle Your Answer
Summer
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Fall
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Winter
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Spring
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From the story "10 Sitka Herring",
write an action word for each word below.
Salmon
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Crab
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Sealion
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Halibut
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Eel
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Shark
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Bullhead
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Devil Fish
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Red Snapper
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Herring
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Recommended Cultural Activities;
Word Box
An- A-s
Eagle
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Raven
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People
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Jet
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Children
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Whales
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Water
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Planes
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Sea gulls
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Crows
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Cars
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Sit quietly on the beach.
List the sounds that you hear.
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Sit and observe a tide pool.
List what you see.
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With a thermometer, take the temperature of;
1. Tide pool water temperature is ________ degrees.
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2. Down by the waterline the water temperature is
_______ degrees.
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3. The outside temperature today is ________ degrees.
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4. The river that flows into the ocean nearby is ________
degrees.
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With a magnifying glass, sit and study the sand. Answer
the following;
1. What Color is most of the sand?
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2. What other Colors do you see in it?
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3. Is it smooth or grainy?
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4. Is it shiny or dull?
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5. What does it smell like?
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During low tide, go down to the beach and find loose floating
seaweed. Bring back to class to sort by color. How many different
colors did you find? List them.
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Dry seaweed in class for future use as a seaweed
print.
Seaweed Drying Tips;
- Thin the seaweed out and press on waterproof
paper.
- Set heavy weight on top of print and let dry
overnight.
- Next day laminate and write a poem to go with
your seaweed print. Be sure to put date, found
on Sitka Beach (what beach), and your name.
Remember! Seaweed is also GOOD to eat!! Yummy!
And... so pretty! Colors; red, black, and green!
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Make a list of words that begins with the letter "H".
1.
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6.
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2.
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7.
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3.
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8.
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4.
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9.
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5.
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10.
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Comprehension
Do you remember? Write yes or no.
1. Herring travels in schools?
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2. Birds do not eat fish.
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3. Herring eggs are healthy and good to eat.
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4. Spruce trees are used for the herring to lay their
eggs on.
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5. The Herring Spawn is the same as it was 100 years
ago.
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6. Herring is good to eat.
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7. Herring eggs can be bought in a grocery store
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8. The herring are important to the food chain.
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Word Box
Sea Anemone
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Heart Cockle
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Bullheads
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Sea Lemon
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Geoduck
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Starfish Blue
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Mussel Black
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Chiton
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Crab
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Top Snail
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Small Brittle Star
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Barnacle
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Draw six creatures in the boxes below. Write their name
below.
__________________________
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__________________________
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__________________________
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__________________________
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__________________________
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__________________________
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Word Box
Cannery Worker
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Biologist
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Boat Pilot
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Law Enforcement Officer
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Captain Crew Member
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Subsistence Gatherer
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Fisherman
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News Reporter
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Draw and list 6 occupations that you observed during the
herring spawn.
__________________________
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__________________________
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__________________________
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__________________________
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__________________________
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__________________________
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This book was created by Pauline Duncan,
any other use or reproduction is forbidden without consent.
Pauline is a first grade teacher at Baranof School, in Sitka,
Alaska. An Alaska native, herself, Pauline was concerned about
the loss of her language, so she set about finding a way to
stimu-late an interest in learning the language in her own
classroom. Pauline has been able to do all this work with the
support and help of her husband, Al Duncan. Al is a fluent
speaker and is the son of Peter and Emma Duncan, formerly of
Excursion Inlet. Al, a native, was born and raised in Alaska.
~ ~ ~
If you work with children and would like a listing of other
available educational material, write to or call;
Pauline Duncan, 721 Lake Street, Sitka, AK 99835, or call
1-907-747-6987
Listen to The
Herring Spawn in Tlingit
THE HERRING SPAWN
SITKA CHILDREN
AWAKE AT DAWN, TO SEE IF TODAY THE HERRING WILL SPAWN.
EXCITEMENT
IS IN THE AIR, AS FISHING BOATS COME IN FROM EVERYWHERE.
THE WATER
TEMPERATURE HAS TO BE JUST SO FOR THE HERRING ROE TO
GROW.
THE WIND,
SNOW, SUN, AND RAIN, COME AND GO AS THE FOG HORN STEADILY
BLOWS.
THE SCENT
OF FRESH HERRING FRYING IS IN THE AIR, AS CHILDREN
AND FAMILIES SIT DOWN
TO SHARE. SEAGULLS CRY
WITH EXCITEMENT AT THIS GREAT EVENT.
THEY KNOW THAT SOON ALL THEIR TIME WILL BE WELL SPENT.
SEAL AND SEA LIONS SIT
WITH GLEE, AS THEY WATCH HERRING COME IN FROM THE SEA.
WHALES COME TO SITKA
IN SOUTHEAST, TO JOIN
IN THIS GREAT HERRING EGG FEAST.
THE OCTOPUS.
HALIBUT, AND SALMON, CANNOT BE LEFT OUT OF THE FUN.
THEY JOIN EVERYONE AS
THE HERRING EGG
SEASON STARTS ITS RUN.
RAVENS SAY "KA,
KA, KA," AS THEY SIT AND VIEW THE HERRING IN AWE.
EAGLES SOAR
AND SIT ON TREES AND EAT AS MUCH HERRING AS THEY PLEASE.
THE HEMLOCK
TREES SIT IN A GRAND AND MAJESTIC STANCE AS NATIVES VIEW IT
FOR
THEIR SUBSISTENCE CIRCUMSTANCES.
THE HEMLOCK
BRANCH IS PLACED IN THE WATER FOR HERRING SPAWN ON.
THE HERRING
WILL SPAWN AND SPAWN UNTIL THEY'RE READY TO MOVE ON.
THE HEMLOCK
BRANCH AND KELP ARE CAREFULLY PICKED UP TO EAT.
FAMILY AND FRIENDS
EXCLAIM, "WHAT A TREAT!" THE
HERING EGGS ARE DIPPED IN SEAL AND
EULACHEN OIL, AND NOT ONE HERRING EGG IS ALLOWED TO SPOIL.
IN SITKA,
A LONG TIME AGO YOU WOULD SEE HERRING HEMLOCK BRANCHES
AND KELP DRYING IN THE SUN.
THIS WAS THE
WAY PRESERVING WAS DONE.
FOR HUNDREDS
OF YEARS, THE HERRING HAS BROUGHT NATIVES MUCH TO EAT.
WITHOUT THE
HERRING, THE NATIVE SUBSISTENCE YEAR WOULD BE INCOMPLETE.
I TOLD YOU THE
RAIN, WIND, SUN, AND SNOW HELPED THE HERRING ROE TO GROW.
THE HERRING
EGG STORY STARTED A LONG, LONG TIME AGO.
©Created by Pauline Ducan, Sitka,
Alaska. Reproduction of words or poster is forbidden
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©February 2001; Children of The Tidelands Series, Reproduction
forbidden with written consent
Return to Pauline Duncan's Tlingit
Materials
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