July 26, 2005

  • Bear Hair?

    A few nights ago, there was a bear in the neighborhood.  I didn’t
    see it, hear the commotion, or even smell the bear.  I slept
    through the excitement.

    Doug told me about it later.  When he described Koji’s behavior, I
    had no doubt it had been a bear.  The dog was doing quiet little
    woofs in the house and going back and forth anxiously from window to
    door.  Our routine around here when there is something outside
    that Koji wants to bark at, we put him out on his chain to bark. 
    When Doug put Koji out that night, he didn’t bark and he slunk right
    back into the house.

    I’ve been observing our dogs’ behavior and that of neighbors’ dogs for
    a couple of decades here.  I hear a difference between their
    barking when the intruder is a moose, a stray dog, a fox, or a musher
    with a team of dogs in harness.  When they are agitated as Koji
    was that night, but not making a lot of noise, that signals a
    bear.  Doug clinched it by saying that when he stuck his head out
    the door he could hear it scratching on a tree.  He was sure
    enough of it that he carried the .44 mag. when he carried out the
    trash, and he body-guarded Koji when he had to go out.

    Yesterday, driving home from a trip over to Charley’s place, I saw
    further evidence.  Snagged on a bush beside the road was a clump
    of something that looked like black bear hair and nothing else. 
    I’ve seen those scraggly clumps beside trails in the woods before.


    I think I’m an ear-witness here now to the marvelous way that human
    connections happen to get important work done.  Listening to a
    local radio call-in show on the topic of suicide prevention, I heard a
    sweet story I’d heard before.

    A clinical social worker in Scammon Bay, Sandy Klevin, first
    encountered Jaye Ulak when he was contemplating suicide.  His
    cousin Jimmy Walker came into contact with her soon afterward, after he
    had attempted suicide.  Teenage suicide is a big problem in rural
    Alaska.  Some small villages have lost as much as three quarters of their
    teen population to suicide.  Sandy learned that both boys rap, and
    she asked each of them to show her what they do.  Impressed by
    their words about village life and teen angst, she brought them
    together and suggested that they go with her to a social work
    conference in Seattle.

    At
    the time, she didn’t know how she could make it happen, but the state
    provided transportation to get the boys to Bethel, and private
    individuals donated airline miles to get them to Seattle, where
    conference organizers provided lodging and food.  The two cousins
    made an impression on the conferees and got some publicity back home
    which has led to several personal appearances.  The next logical
    step would be a recording, right?

    Today, they spoke on public radio here, and rapped a little with their
    positive message.  One caller to the program asked how she could
    help them spread the message.  Jaye (on the left here) said, “I
    don’t know.  Just keep encouraging us…”  Sandy broke in and
    mentioned that the duo, Blood Family, wants to do some recording and
    are hoping to make the necessary connections.  The caller said,
    “Well, I know some people here in Anchorage at Surreal Studios… and there’s the native music group, Pamyua… I know some of them.”  Neat!  I’m hoping it all works out for Jaye and Jimmy, and everyone gets to hear them.

Comments (8)

  • I’m the first post?  I’m never the first post for you!  I’m in San Diego.  I haven’t been around much; grabbing at a routine but now I’ve found my favorite time to read you and my favorite Xangans is at lunch time.  I work for a forensics psychiatrist and sometimes I just wanna yell, “Oh yeah, well ask Cathy about narcassism!”  You’d love this job.  I do too.  Anyways, all is going well and I hope to be around more often.  My love to you and Doug and the Grey One.

  • Posts like this really make me wish I had something to say. 

  • I think that’s absolutely wonderful.
    When I worked in the North, suicide was prevalent there, too.
    I lost three Cree students in one year.

  • 3/4ths lost to suicide? Dear gawd. I hope the guys are able to get their message out and help some people.

  • holy cow.  This is awesome, and the statistics that inspired it are just tragic.

    I wish these two boys much success.

  • i’d say your neighborhood has always strange visits…..

  • I was always fond of the joke about how one could tell bear poop from other skat:  The presence of bells!

    —————-

    The Blood Family are a good lookin’ duo.  I hope they remain positive and that thier message reflects this.  I can’t think of too many rappers that reveal a message of hope.

  • What a fabulous story. I hope they get many opportunities to perform!

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