Native Contributions To Arctic Science At Barrow, Alaska

Abstract

INTRODUCTION IN August 1997, the Naval Arctic Research Laboratory (NARL) in Barrow, Alaska celebrated its 50th anniversary. The Lab, originally called the Arctic Research Laboratory (ARL) but renamed in 1967, is renowned for its accomplishments and contributions to the scientific understanding of the Arctic. Amidst the glory, however, there is little mention of the Inupiat (North Alaskan Eskimo) role in this scientific program. Local residents' knowledge of the arctic environment contributed to the success of both individual scientists and the facility overall. Without Native assistance, much of the work at NARL could not have been accomplished. These men and women deserve to be recognized. Few people are aware of the Inupiat who worked on scientific projects at NARL. I believe the scientific community has been negligent in not making this better known. Therefore, I will discuss in general Inupiat assistance to arctic science from the 1940s to the present, and describe a few specific cases. More Inupiat worked at NARL than will be mentioned here, and they deserve equal recognition. Many more scientists are also involved, some who named their Native consultants and others who did not. The term "science" refers here to the natural sciences: biology, physiology, physics, geology, atmospheric studies, and oceanography. Native participation in science at Barrow was made possible by key events, including the United States Navy's oil exploration program, interest in scientific research, and establishment of the Arctic Research Laboratory. NATIONAL PETROLEUM RESERVE AND OIL EXPLORATION In 1944, the United States Navy launched a full-scale oil exploration program (PET4) in Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 4 (NPR4). The 90,000 km"Symbol not transcribed" reserve in northern Alaska, established in 1923, had gone relatively unnoticed since the initial exploratory and mapping work. Now, the previously remote Inupiaq community of Barrow would become the Navy's PET4 base of operations for the next nine years. The town would be inundated with Naval personnel, barges, and heavy equipment as the Navy constructed a village of Quonset huts and laid a gravel runway 6 km north of town. Barrow is located at the northernmost point in Alaska along the Arctic Ocean. The Inupiat lifestyle in the 1940s, like that of their ancestors, was dominated by whaling, hunting, fishing, and trapping. It was still a harsh life with few amenities. Wood-frame homes had replaced sod houses, but they were poorly built and drafty. Most of the homes had electricity, but not running water, gas heat, or telephones. The dog team was still the main mode of transportation. Modern goods and supplies were available at local trading posts, but in limited quantities and for high prices. Prior to the Navy's arrival, there were few jobs in Barrow. People worked at the hospital, the school, the Native store, the weather bureau, or the church, but wages were low. The higher wages of the Navy jobs attracted both Barrow residents and Inupiat from outlying areas. Many families moved to Barrow for jobs and remained there permanently. At first, it was not easy for the Natives to get jobs. The Navy had reservations about hiring them because of the prevalence of tuberculosis and the perception that they were undependable workers. Only after establishing a health care program, providing TB testing, and helping to improve living conditions in the village did the Navy change its mind and provide more opportunities for Native employment. Inupiat men helped unload the supply ships. They were laborers, equipment operators, mechanics, and carpenters, as well as guides and assistants on survey, seismic, and mapping crews. Inupiat women sewed and repaired clothing (Roberts, 1952). Native knowledge of the country and its extreme conditions gradually came to be recognized as beneficial to the PET4 operation. Sadie Neakok, an 80-year-old Inupiaq woman born and raised in Barrow, was a teacher, welfare worker, and Barrow's first magistrate. This respected community leader provided a local perspective on Inupiat employment at the Navy's base camp: The whole thing when that base opened up was we had no trained personnel in our community. It was the outside help that came in with all the knowledge. And then, when they hired a person, I was called in to interpret to my own people that they would not be paid like their bosses, even though they did the same kind of work, because they weren't trained for the job. And if you think that was easy! ...And I had to give the reason: "you haven't had so many years of schooling or do not have the expertise, the knowledge, that this person who is making you work has. But he will explain to you what you must learn." (Neakok, 1996: Tape 2, Side A) Thus, there was tension right from the start between the Inupiat and the non-Native newcomers. This was exacerbated by isolation: Inupiat went to the camp to work, but rarely socialized with the Navy people.