Sunday May 17, 2009
By train we came down to Anchorage and then bussed to Whittier to board ship. Passed thru the town of Wasilla, which is actually a good sized town, but on a fast moving train .. and trying to find signage was impossible. Hometown of Sarah Palin for those that might have forgotten.
Going thru Anchorage by bus I had to take a quick picture of this shop and looked them up at home. Qiviut (pronounced "kiv-ee-ute") is the downy soft under wool from the Arctic musk ox. It is shed naturally each year during the springs months and is eight time warmer than wool, extraordinarily lightweight but in checking some simple scarves, it's quiet expensive! Guess it would be worth the price if you lived in an arctic climate and could put it to use. Not so here in the South lower 48.
We visited the Alaska Native Heritage Center and had our pictures taken inside of an upright set of whales jawbones. Not a doubt in my mind that Jonah of the Bible was swallowed by one. Could have put at least 5 people side by side and still would have fit. Not to mention the height!
In the outside village we learned one far northern tribe would take part of a whale bone with jagged shards, roll it tightly and tie with string, then placed in seal meat. They threw to a polar bear that would eat it and later the stomach acid would dissolve the string, unfolding the shard. For days they followed the bear. Something was put into the mixture to cause the bear to sleep and allowed for the killing. The polar bear was then brought back to the village by sled and every part of the bear was used. Nothing was wasted.
Here are some native dancers .. visit their website at
Native Heritage Center Very informative and educational!
