ANCIENT REMAINS FOUND IN KIVALINA

During the excavation on the site where the new treatment plant was being built by Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC), some bones were discovered but turned out to be animals bones.  Then an old type of war helmet was discovered and what appeared to be some type of tool made by what looked like some type of bone.  City Administrator Janet Mitchell went to discuss the discoveries with Dave Reiser, project supervisor.  She stated that since it's federal dollars being used for the project, it was mandatory that the discovery be reported and an archeologist be present for the duration of the excavation period being that the discovery may unearth more artifacts.  Mr. Reiser stated he would call main office and pass on the request.

ANTHC sent their archeologist and excavation resumed.  Human remains were found near the Southside corner of the site.  Excavation came to a halt while the archeologist did his work.  When that was completed, work continued.  As they dug further North, another discovery was made.  This time, the remains were better preserved then the first discovery.  Project came to another halt until the archeologist did his work.  The remains were in what seemed like a dwelling and not a burial plot. 

ANTHC workers resumed work but only after marking significant spots on site where they would dig straight down in the event of finding more remains.  None were discovered and work resumed.  Remains have been sent for analysis. 

To date, February 2010, the only report we've heard is that the artifacts date back to 500 AD.  We have yet to get the results of the radiocarbon analysis on the human remains.

SHORT KNOWN HISTORY OF IPIUTTAQ PASSED FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION!

The story of the Ipiuttaq have been passed on from generation to generation but this short story is all I know of the tribe.  They are very short, stocky and full of incredible strength.  They mind their own business and live a very elusive life, devoid of contact with any other people....unless they choose to show themselves.  They are compassionate because on occasion, they have assisted the Inupiaq on a rare occasion when the Inupiaq have shown themselves to be in a helpless situation while out in the tundra gathering food.

"Years and years ago, the Ipiuttaq Tribe lived in close proximity with the Inupiaq people, often times in the same community.  Like all nomadic people, they would stop at a village while passing through to enjoy the company , food and comfort of a heated home while traveling.  One day, a family of the Ipiuttaq tribe were passing through a village when a disturbing event occurred.  It had been a lean year and there was hunger in the village. 

The couple had a very young son.  He was walking past the dogs with his mother when one of the dogs lunged and devoured the little boy in one quick swoop.  The mother yelled for her husband, who wasn't far away. He lunged at the dog, flipped it's on it's back and cut open it's stomach with one long sweep of a knife.  He dug out his son but the little body was already lifeless.  He was very much angered by the incident and demanded that all dogs be destroyed before another incident like that happened again to his people. 

The leader and members of the Inupiaq community met and came to the conclusion that they needed the dogs to hunt and survive so refused to destroy all dogs in the town.  The angered member of the Ipiuttaq tribe packed all his belongings, told his people they were never coming back to another Inupiaq village.  The dogs were too dangerous for their people.  They were never seen again."

These people didn't die off, they just chose not to be seen again.  On a rare occasion, various members of some villages report catching a glimpse of these people.  On a few occasions in Kivalina, two hunters on separate occasions have actually been helped by a small man dressed in Native clothing.  Both had been in a situation where they were helpless to get out of by themselves.