Inservice for Lower Kuskokwim School District new to the area teachers

Trying to keep fish guts off the kuspuk.

Fish! Lots and lots of fish, all kinds. Summers can be spent at fish camps along the various rivers drying fish that have been caught in gill
nets either drifting with the current, or set nets that stay put until the owner "works the line".

The school district had these three women show how different salmon species are cut to dry. I think the fish were silver, king, and chum. They are using the ulu, the traditional women's knife.

The people of this region are considered subsistence hunters and fishermen. The Yu'pik people will put up fish all summer placing their drying racks where the wind will keep the flies away. Many people will smoke their fish also helping the preservation. Come winter, hopefully enough has been put up for the family.

I think this woman is so beautiful! I chose to make all the people photos black and white as the camera was being goofy with its color.

Note how the tail, end of fish, is still one piece on the table. This allows this style of cut to hang over a fish drying rack. This is the typical way to hang silvers.

This woman is slicing the thicker part of the meat to help it dry quicker. The one she is cutting is the King Salmon, or Chinook, as it is the largest species. There are some BIG ones out in these parts!

This woman is making a "plank cut". The sticks are being woven into the fish. This is the typical way to dry the Chum or Dog salmon.

Again, the tail piece is intact in order to hang the fish.