Vera Kingeekuk Metcalf (born 1951)[1] is an educator and advocate known for her work in the preservation of the traditions and language of Alaska Native people. In 2019, she was inducted into the Alaska Women's Hall of Fame.

Early life and education

Metcalf was born in Sivungaq (Savoonga) on St. Lawrence Island, Alaska.[1] During her schooling on the island, she served as a teacher's aide, and translated lessons into Yupik to share with the students in the class.[1] In 1991, Metcalf earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.[1]

Career

While working for the Bering Straits Foundation, Metcalf worked on the repatriation of remains held by the Fairbanks Museum and Smithsonian Institution.[2] Through her work, almost 1000 remains were returned to St. Lawrence Island under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.[3][4]

In 2002, Metcalf was named as the head of the Eskimo Walrus Commission,[1] and in that role she works to maintain the rights of subsistence hunting of walrus[5][6] and the carving of walrus ivory by members of the Alaskan Native community.[7][8] She also shares knowledge on how modes of transportation can harm walrus, including airplanes[9][10] and ship traffic.[11] Metcalf tracks the magnitude of the walrus harvest,[12] which is important as changes in sea ice alters the ability to hunt and results in decreased harvesting of walruses needed for food.[13][14] In a 2021 interview, she described the challenges of harvesting walrus, and noted that she speaks for the community around in her work, and not about herself.[15] Metcalf was appointed to the United States Arctic Research Commission President George W. Bush in 2006.[16][17]

In 2015, Metcalf worked with the United States Department of State to establish visa-free travel across the Bering Strait to allow people in the region to more easily visit family members in the region.[18][19]

Metcalf shares her indigenous knowledge of the ocean,[20] and uses public events to emphasize the need for local partners in understanding environmental impacts of climate change.[21] She is a member of the Innuit Circumpolar Council, and is working to increase knowledge on indigenous languages such as the Yupik language she speaks.[22][23] She is part of a research project funded in 2021 by the United States' National Science Foundation which will examine how changes in sea ice impact marine mammals and subsistence hunting.[24]

Awards and honors

In 2003, the Before Columbus Foundation awarded an American Book Award to Metcalf and co-authors for their book Akuzilleput igaqullghet = Our words put to paper.[25] In 2008, Metcalf received the Sea Award, a Women of Discovery Award.[26] In 2019, Metcalf was elected to the Alaska Women's Hall of Fame[1][27] based on a nomination from Alice Green.[28]

Selected publications

  • Krupnik, Igor; Krutak, Lars F.; Walunga, Willis; Metcalf, Vera (2002). Akuzilleput igaqullghet = Our words put to paper : sourcebook in St. Lawrence Island heritage and history. Retrieved 2022-02-05 – via library.si.edu.
  • Metcalf, Vera; Robards, Martin (2008). "Sustaining a Healthy Human-Walrus Relationship in a Dynamic Environment: Challenges for Comanagement". Ecological Applications. 18 (2): S148–S156. doi:10.1890/06-0642.1. ISSN 1051-0761. JSTOR 40062162. PMID 18494368.
  • Metcalf, Vera K. (2021). "Nangaghneghput – our way of life". Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. 19 (8): 427. doi:10.1002/fee.2409. ISSN 1540-9309. S2CID 244232293.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Vera Metcalf | Alaska Women's Hall Of Fame". Alaska Women's Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2022-02-05.
  2. ↑ "NATIVE AMERICAN GRAVES PROTECTION AND REPATRIATION REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING". National Park Service. October 1995. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  3. ↑ "NAGPRA News" (PDF). Common Ground. 1 (1): 44–46.
  4. ↑ Metcalf, Vera (September 2001). "AKUZILLEPUT IGAQULLGHET: A participants postscript" (PDF). Arctic Study Centers Newsletter. p. 29. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  5. ↑ Metcalf, Vera; Krupnik, I, eds. (2003). Pacific walrus. Conserving our culture through traditional management. Report Produced by Eskimo Walrus Commission, Kawerak, under a Grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Section 119 (2003) Cooperative Agreement No. 701813J506.
  6. ↑ Demer, Lisa (October 4, 2017). "Walruses adapt to loss of sea ice and are not endangered, feds say". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 2022-02-05.
  7. ↑ "Alaska Delegation Introduces Bills to Curb States' Bans on Walrus Ivory". KNOM Radio Mission. 2019-03-26. Retrieved 2022-02-05.
  8. ↑ Hovey, Davis (2017-06-21). "Confusion over legalities is hurting Alaskan ivory market, locals say". KTOO. Retrieved 2022-02-05.
  9. ↑ Brulliard, Karin (June 23, 2016). "The grim reason pilots need to worry about walruses". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2022-02-05.
  10. ↑ Khachatoorian, Travis (June 15, 2016). "Feds urge pilots to avoid walrus haulouts to prevent deadly stampedes". Alaska News Source. Retrieved 2022-02-05.
  11. ↑ Reiss, Bob (March 2010). "Barrow, Alaska: Ground Zero for Climate Change". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2022-02-05.
  12. ↑ Haecker, Diane (August 8, 2013). "St. Lawrence Island suffers worst walrus harvest on record" (PDF). Nome Nugget. p. 1. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  13. ↑ Milman, Oliver (2016-12-19). "Alaska indigenous people see culture slipping away as sea ice vanishes". the Guardian. Retrieved 2022-02-05.
  14. ↑ D'Oro, Rachel · (August 6, 2015). "Walrus move north, leaving Alaska natives with fewer food sources". CBC News. p. August 6, 2015. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  15. ↑ Deedy, Alexander (2021-09-12). "Alaska Magazine | A Voice for Thousands: Q&A with Vera Metcalf". Alaska Magazine. Retrieved 2022-02-07.
  16. ↑ "Vera Kingeekuk Metcalf | US Arctic Research Commission". Retrieved 2022-02-05.
  17. ↑ "Business People". Anchorage Daily News. 23 October 2006. p. F2.
  18. ↑ "U.S. and Russia introduce visa-free travel for Chukotka and Alaska". Russia Beyond. 2015-07-23. Retrieved 2022-02-05.
  19. ↑ Schuessler, Ryan (2015-07-30). "Small thaw in U.S.-Russian relations at the Alaska frontier". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2022-02-05.
  20. ↑ "CHOW Chat: Vera Metcalf on Indigenous Knowledge for our Ocean". National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. Retrieved 2022-02-05.
  21. ↑ Arthur, Maeve; Neal, Abby (June 19, 2020). "Ocean Partnerships Highlighted during Capitol Hill Ocean Week | Article | EESI". www.eesi.org. Retrieved 2022-02-06.
  22. ↑ Quinn, Eilís (2019-12-20). "Inuit leaders applaud UN move to designate International Decade of Indigenous Languages". Eye on the Arctic. Retrieved 2022-02-05.
  23. ↑ "Circumpolar Inuit org looks forward to International Decade of Indigenous Languages". Nunatsiaq News. 2020-01-03. Retrieved 2022-02-05.
  24. ↑ Naiden, Alena (November 11, 2021). "Changing Arctic: Indigenous and scientific experts unite". www.thearcticsounder.com. Retrieved 2022-02-05.
  25. ↑ "Before Columbus". ankn.uaf.edu. Retrieved 2022-02-06.
  26. ↑ "Education Update - 2008 WINGS Women of Discovery Awardees". www.educationupdate.com. March 2008. Retrieved 2022-02-06.
  27. ↑ "Profile of AK Women's Hall of Fame Inductee: Vera Metcalf". KNOM Radio Mission. 2019-04-30. Retrieved 2022-02-05.
  28. ↑ Mason, James (2019-05-10). "Nome's Vera Metcalf inducted into Alaska Women's Hall of Fame". The Nome Nugget. Retrieved 2022-02-06.
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