The article explores the deep emotional ties Indigenous people, particularly in rural Alaska, have to their land and traditional way of life. Through the eyes of Kael, who questions the lack of traditional hunting in the city, the author highlights the stark contrast between urban diversions and the richness of life steeped in nature. The author reflects on her difficult decision to leave Unalakleet, emphasizing that the values, relationships, and identity formed in nature cannot be replaced by modern conveniences. This journey encapsulates the heart-wrenching choices faced by those navigating between two worlds.
I feel like it's a redundant message in my writing. Our Indigenous way of life is beautiful. Living in relationship with the land and water is so rich and so life-filling that all the diversions in Western cultivated society cannot hold a candle to a calm day on the water.
Moving away from Unalakleet was an impossible decision full of heartbreak. The land and the water and the way we live and play are central to who we are. This is where our values are born.
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