A plethora of people crowded the harbor at Sand Point on Saturday, July 24. Many crowded the small dock, while others sat on a wall that overlooks the water.
They were watching an entire group of people boarding a long, wooden boat. It was open like an open canoe, however this was a nigilax. It’s a traditional Unangax boat made of an unfinished wooden frame that was covered in animal skins.
The community created this nigilax in spring however, they’ve waited for its launch for longer, and it’s been a long time since the first attempt.
“During the Russian fur trade, Russians noticed our ancestors’ ability move large amounts of people in order to move villages, to transport their cargo and eventually, to escape Russians during the fur trade” stated Amy Mack, one of many who assisted in organizing the build of the nigilax.
She told her audience that forefathers utilized the boat as cargo ships and this frightened the colonizers. They could move entire villages as well as warriors easily with one vessel.
“To ensure that our ancestors’ ancestors were totally accessible to the Russians Unfortunately all the nigilax was demolished,” Mack said.
However, this summer the nigilax returned. Four communities have constructed these this year after looking at historical documents, drawings and artifacts to understand how they were constructed one of them situated in Sand Point, one in Atka and one in Anchorage as well as one in an area in Northern California, where the majority of Unangax residents were relocated during Russian days. Three communities have since started the boat, which hasn’t been seen since the 1800s.
The most recent official launch took place on the grounds of Sand Point Culture Camp, on the 24th of July. On that day, Ethan Petticrew, one of the camp’s teachers stood on the stern of the boat as he called out the strokes while others sang Unangam Tunuu, and played drums.
The group sailed into the bay, and then circled Range Island, a small rock outcrop that’s just a mile away far from where the dock.
The crew returned to the dock around an hour after launching the dock, and dancers from Unangax, Atka as well as Sand Point, greeted the crew with traditional acclamation.
“This is a truly moving experience that I’m about to be crying,” said Petticrew. “People aren’t doing such a thing since 1800. This is a very spiritual moment. I feel very connected to my grandparents. It’s like paddling with my great grandparents.”
There were many suggestions for name names to describe the nigilax however ultimately Amy Mack said the choice was clear.
Unangam Angii which means “Unangax Spirit.”
“We picked this name because we’re Unangan people and we would like that ancestral spirit’ to be revived,” Mack said.
After the paddling, the nigilax was transferred to the dock before being kept at the office of the tribal council. However, the Aleutians don’t need to wait for another 200 years to see the next vessel: currently the fifth nigilax is being constructed and is expected to be ready for water shortly in Unalaska.
