Kim Sparks

Interviewee Collection Sort descending Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
Rhonda Wayner, Harmony Wayner and Betty Bonin Women in Alaska Fisheries

Betty Bonin (grandmother), Rhonda Wayner (mother) and Harmony Wayner (daughter) represent three generations of Alaska Native fisherwomen in Naknek, Alaska. In this interview, these ladies discuss their family heritage of having strong, female fishers in the family, the physical nature of fishing, and family roles in the fishery. Rhonda participated in a follow-up phone interview where she further discusses her history in the fishery, environmental changes she's witnessed, as well as family bonds that are created through fishing.

Kim Sparks , Kitty Sopow Naknek, AK Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Fisheries Science Center , Bristol Bay Native Association , NOAA Preserve America Initiative
Rhonda Wayner Women in Alaska Fisheries

Rhonda discusses her history in the fishery, environmental changes she's witnessed, as well as family bonds that are created through fishing. This interview is part of the Alaska Native Fisherwomen of Bristol Bay oral history project, a partnership between NOAA Fisheries Alaska Fisheries Science Center and Bristol Bay Native Association.

Kim Sparks Naknek, AK Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Fisheries Science Center , Bristol Bay Native Association , NOAA Preserve America Initiative
Annette Caruso Women in Alaska Fisheries

Annette Caruso is a retired fisherwoman who has participated in both the drift and set net commercial fishery. In this interview Annette talks about environmental changes she’s witnessed, including tundra fires, increased bear activity and increased tundra cotton. She also discusses her personal history in the area, including how her grandparents and mother grew up, as well as how she got started drift netting with her father.

Kim Sparks , Kitty Sopow Naknek, AK Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Fisheries Science Center , Bristol Bay Native Association , NOAA Preserve America Initiative
Apayu Moore Women in Alaska Fisheries

Apayu is an artist based out of Aleknagik, Alaska, who grew up subsistence fishing. Apayu recounts her memories of fishing with her father as a child and her return to subsistence fishing after college. Apayu addresses complex questions, such as the meaning of a subsistence lifestyle and what it means to her to be Yup’ik.

Kim Sparks , Christopher Maines Dillingham, AK Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Fisheries Science Center , Bristol Bay Native Association , NOAA Preserve America Initiative
Wassiliisa "Deedee" Bennis Women in Alaska Fisheries

Wassiliisa (Deedee) lives in Dillingham, Alaska and is the Chief Administrative Officer at Bristol Bay Native Association, where she has worked for over forty years. In this interview Deedee describes how she grew up fishing with her father, who was a commercial fisherman, and how she values family engagement in the fishery.

Kim Sparks , Jean Lee, Christopher Maines Dillingham, AK Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Fisheries Science Center , Bristol Bay Native Association , NOAA Preserve America Initiative
Anne Shankle Women in Alaska Fisheries

Anne Shankle grew up in Michigan, and moved to Naknek Alaska in 1996 while building her own house from scrap parts leftover from seafood processors. She subsists off the land, and lives off the grid with her dog sled team. Ann has extensive knowledge of medicinal and native plants, and discusses how she has subsisted in Naknek, which includes harvesting berries, plants and herbs from the tundra.

Sarah Wise, Kim Sparks Nakenk, AK Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, NOAA Fisheries, Bristol Bay Native Association , NOAA Preserve America Initiative
Carol Ann Hester, Meg Anna Schlais and Elizabeth Hester Women in Alaska Fisheries

CarolAnn Hester, MegAnna Schlais, and Elizabeth Hester represent three generations of women fishing in Naknek, Alaska. CarolAnn and MegAnna are a mother/daughter team who commercially fish, and all three women participate in subsistence fishing.  In this interview, CarolAnn, MegAnna and Elizabeth talk about how they got started in fishing, the products they produce and their participation in the subsistence lifestyle, which includes gardening. They also talk about their strong work ethic, and what motivates them to fish.

Kim Sparks , JudyJo Matson Nakenk, AK Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, NOAA Fisheries, Bristol Bay Native Association , NOAA Preserve America Initiative
Carla Harris and Judy Jo Matson Women in Alaska Fisheries

JudyJo Matson and Carla Harris are a feisty mother/daughter duo; JudyJo commercially set nets while her mother Carla primarily fishes for subsistence. JudyJo begins the interview by talking about her experiences commercial fishing as a woman. She talks about her commercial site at Graveyard Point in the Kvichak River, as well what drives her to fish. JudyJo also addresses environmental changes and her childhood fishing experiences.

Kim Sparks , Kitty Sopow Nakenk, AK Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Fisheries Science Center , Bristol Bay Native Association , NOAA Preserve America Initiative
Gayla Hoseth Women in Alaska Fisheries

Gayla Hoseth is Director of the Natural Resources Program at Bristol Bay Native Association and currently serves as the Second Chief to the Curying Tribal Council. She spent summers during her childhood putting up fish with her grandmother in Bristol Bay. In this interview Gayla talks about learning to set net fish for salmon with her grandmother and carrying on these practices with her sisters and younger generations of her family. She also discusses the importance of fighting to protect and maintain the traditional Native way of life.

Kim Sparks , Anna Lavoie, Jean Lee, Kitty Sopow, Sean Day Dillingham, AK Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Fisheries Science Center , Bristol Bay Native Association , NOAA Preserve America Initiative
Alannah Hurley Women in Alaska Fisheries

Alannah Hurley is the Executive Director of the United Tribes of Bristol Bay in Alaska. She is a Yupik fisherwoman of salmon for subsistence and commercial purposes. She discusses her heritage and how she learned to fish as a child, and historical socio-cultural processes of the Bristol Bay region. She also discusses her experience and knowledge of climate change and the challenges Yupik people face in regard to climate change and their struggle to maintain their identity, culture, and relationship with the environment.

Anna Lavoie, Jean Lee, Kim Sparks , Kitty Sopow, Sean Day Dillingham, AK Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Fisheries Science Center , Bristol Bay Native Association , NOAA Preserve America Initiative