December 5, 2008

Dear Hal Granum,

Last month when I read your book, The Great Eagle Spirit, I came to a new realization about my culture. You see, I am an Unangan from Unalaska Island, where the setting of your book takes place.

Before I read your book, I didn’t think much about the history or the life of the Unangan (Aleut) people. But after I read your book, I started to imagine what life was like for the Aleuts in the past. I wanted to learn more about the Aleutian people that lived before me here in Unalaska.

Some of the ideas I got from your book were new ideas. I felt I was relating to Carl’s life (the main character in the book). He too wanted to preserve his people’s traditions and culture. Unfortunately, I have also noticed my culture slowly fading away because nobody is really teaching it here anymore in Unalaska.

Your character Carl has inspired me to want to do something to continue our Unangan education and cultural traditions. I also know from your book that I need to keep learning about the Aleutian Islands and their peoples, so that I can one day teach these traditions to the future Aleuts.

Once a year I get a chance to experience the Unangan culture during the summer at Camp Quanaaux, here in Unalaska. Our tribal leaders help teach us about how the Aleuts hunted, dressed, and danced. We also learn about Aleut music and language. I hope our Tribe continues this camp so I can learn more about my culture, and so that some day I can be a teacher or a leader of our people. This way I will have accomplished my goal of keeping our culture alive.

Thanks for writing this book. Carl’s experiences remind me of my life, and they have inspired me to go after my goals of helping to preserve my culture.

Sincerely,

Kanesia Price

Kanesia Price

6th Grade

Unalaska City School District, Unalaska, Alaska

Teacher:  Cathy Leu