Post by diane9247 on Dec 6, 2020 11:40:11 GMT
Barrow, Alaska, was officially renamed Utqiaġvik, its old Iñupiat name, in 2016. It is still commonly called Barrow and is one of the northernmost populated places in the world. The population in 2010 was 4,212 and could be slightly higher in the 2020 census. There isn't much to keep young people busy in such an isolated place, so a few years ago a high school football team was founded. They were playing games on dirt until a woman in Florida found out about the team and raised a million dollars to buy artificial turf. It's a striking sight on the dull grey soil. Utqiaġvik translates to "the place where snowy owls are hunted."
The town is home to Ilisagvik College, located southwest of the football field in the lower section of town. It is, surprisingly, the only tribal college in Alaska and provides technical courses as well as liberal arts degrees.
Cathy Parker Field, home of the Utqiaġvik Whales, and other sights of Barrow/Utqiaġvik...
Blue football Barrow.kmz (782 B)
There is a fascinating side-trip from my Barrow placemark. A short distance NE is a red 360 photo. It is a group of Inupiat men harvesting a whale after dark. They are dividing the blubber into strips to share among the community. Native Alaskan people have hunting rights for a certain amount of game each year. Blubber ( the thick layer of fat) is an important food in their diet, so they hunt seals, walrus and whales for meat and blubber. Caribou provide meat and hides. I wonder how long it took to kill the whale, pull it to shore, then butcher and distribute it in the village.
The town is home to Ilisagvik College, located southwest of the football field in the lower section of town. It is, surprisingly, the only tribal college in Alaska and provides technical courses as well as liberal arts degrees.
Cathy Parker Field, home of the Utqiaġvik Whales, and other sights of Barrow/Utqiaġvik...
Blue football Barrow.kmz (782 B)
There is a fascinating side-trip from my Barrow placemark. A short distance NE is a red 360 photo. It is a group of Inupiat men harvesting a whale after dark. They are dividing the blubber into strips to share among the community. Native Alaskan people have hunting rights for a certain amount of game each year. Blubber ( the thick layer of fat) is an important food in their diet, so they hunt seals, walrus and whales for meat and blubber. Caribou provide meat and hides. I wonder how long it took to kill the whale, pull it to shore, then butcher and distribute it in the village.