BUCKLAND

"We live inland. 18 miles from the coast on the Buckland River, where the caribou have spent their winter’s for thousands of years. The Western Arctic Caribou Herd has sustained our village through the seasons. The young hunters first catch go to the elders. Learning where to go and when to go, are important traditions that the older hunters teach. We use the skin for mukluks and mattresses. We love the heart, liver and tongue. The elders always want the book and bible (a compartment of the stomach) as we now call them. When we have potlucks everyone cooks the caribou different ways. The caribou is so mouthwatering to us all. The values that the caribou gives us is who we are as people. Hard work, sharing, being happy, content and even tired comes from the caribou. People come from all over to hunt in Buckland. We have the best search and rescue, that is always ready. The caribou gives us life and it's who we are now, before and forever." — Percy Charles Ballot Sr. is Inupiaq and lives in Buckland, Alaska.