Subsistence & "Absenteeism"

Elsewhere they may be debates about Gun Control. Here for show-and-tell: A student brings in wings from a Grouse they shot.

It is September. School has just started and also the Fall Moose hunting season has started. All summer long, these students have been helping with the subsistence. They have been fishing out at their fish camps and gathering berries & rosehips for jam.

It's interesting to me because as part of Alaska Teacher Certification, you need to take online courses. I am doing one on Alaska Native Studies and our focus this week was on food & subsistence. As I mentioned before, the groceries are expensive here because historically people were able to subside without processed foods.

Activities like hunting, fishing, and gathering are important. Alaska could never have year-round school because so many students would be absent during these summer months. I'm a little surprised that the school dates start right as hunting season starts. In order to combat absenteeism, it might be a good idea to start the school year after hunting season is over and maybe go a little later into June (because the berries & fish don't to come until a little later into the summer) or maybe have there be a "Fall Break" during hunting season with a shorter Christmas break later.

Moose stew, moose jerky in the Teacher Lounge. People share their harvest :)