The Story of Birch Creek and Brevig Mission

Описание: Birch Creek sits in the middle of the Yukon Flats in Central Eastern Alaska. I am surprised at how random it's location seems to be. A man called "The Chief of Chiefs" called Birch Creek Jimmy was the first to build a cabin on this spot in 1898. Jimmy's extended family soon followed suit, and the Dendu Gwich'in Athabascan people had made one of their first permanent settlements. The population over the years has changed little, lingering around 35. This tiny village is 100% native, as it's a requirement to be native to be considered a member of the Birch Creek Tribe. So far, this is the first time I have seen this in a village. Birch Creek is truly a unique place!



Brevig Mission was originally occupied by the Kauwerak Eskimos who impressively traded with people in Sibera, Little Diomede, and King Island demonstrating seafearing skills. In the late 1800s, Sheldon Jackson, the famous Presbyterian Missionary launched an effort to bring 1300 reindeer from Siberia to Alaska as a sustainable food source for Alaska native people. This effort came with Lutheran Missionary Tellof L Brevig who name became the village name. His sacrificial effort in Brevig village is still remembered today as the Brevig Mission Memorial Church is still functioning today. There's so much more to this place and I did my best to brush over it's history, but know I just barely scratched the surface in this episode!



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