Savoonga is located on the northern coast of St. Lawrence Island in the
Bering Sea, 164 miles west of Nome. It lies 39 miles southeast of Gambell.
Summer temperatures average 40 to 51 °F while winter temperatures
range from -7 to 11 °F. Average precipitation is 10 inches annually,
with 58 inches of snowfall. Freeze-up on the Bering Sea occurs in mid-November,
with break-up in late May.
St. Lawrence has been inhabited intermittently for the past 2,000 years
by both Alaskan and Siberian Yup'ik Eskimos. The island had numerous villages
with a total population of around 4,000 by the 19th century. The city
was incorporated in 1969. When the Alaska
Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) was passed in 1971, Gambell
and Savoonga decided not to participate, and instead opted for title to
the 1.136 million acres of land in the former St. Lawrence Island reserve.
Savoonga and Gambell jointly own the Island. Alaska Natives represent
over 95% of the population. It is a traditional Eskimo village with a
subsistence lifestyle surrounding walrus and whale hunting. Savoonga is
hailed as the "Walrus Capitol of the World.".
The economy of Savoonga is largely based on subsistence hunting of walrus,
seal, fish, and bowhead whales, with some cash income. Reindeer harvests
occur, but the herd is not formally managed. Islanders are known for their
quality ivory carvings.
Ackerman, Robert E. 1976. The Eskimo People of Savoonga. Phoenix, AZ : Indian Tribal Series.
Apassingok, Anders. 1985. Sivuqam nangaghnegha: siivanllemta ungipaqellghat. Unalakleet, AK: Bering Strait School District.
Braund, Stephen R. 1988. The Skin Boats of Saint Lawrence Island, Alaska. Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press.
Grotbo, John A. 1977. Savoonga: Its History, Population and Economy. Billings, MT: United States. Bureau of Indian Affairs. Planning Support Group. Report - United States Department of the Interior, Planning Support Group no. 242.
Jolles, Carol Zane. 1990. Being Yup'ik, Being Christian: Ethnicity and Christianity in Sivuqaq. Thesis (Ph. D.) - University of Washington.
Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. 1990 1999. Eskimo Songs from Alaska. [Washington, D.C.]; 1 sound disc (43 min., 50 sec.). Language: Yupik languages; Sung in Eskimo. Custom compact disc series Standard No: Publisher: F-4069; Smithsonian/Folkways Recordings; FE 4069.
Wibberley, Stephen. 1969. When Savoonga Began. Savoonga, AK: Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Weather:
http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/PASA.html
From the National Weather service
http://www.weather.com/weather/local/USAK0212
From Weather.com
Sea Ice:
http://www.natice.noaa.gov/westarct.htm
Current Conditions
http://www.natice.noaa.gov/pub/special_support/forecast/west/
30 - Day Forecast
http://polar.wwb.noaa.gov/seaice/alaska.html
Sea Ice conditions for AK, images from the last 14 days
http://polar.wwb.noaa.gov/seaice/ak.html#click
Clickable sea ice map from NOAA
http://polar.wwb.noaa.gov/seaice/Forecasts.html
Sea Ice forecast models for AK - 1 through 6 day forecasts
http://www.kawerak.org/village/savoonga/savoonga.html
Kawerak, Inc. Savoonga village site
http://www.dced.state.ak.us/mra/Photos/Savoonga_Photos.htm
Community photos
http://www.beringsea.com/cgi-bin/comm.pl?community=Savoonga
Information about Savoonga from beringsea.com
http://www.arcticculture.about.com/culture/arcticculture/library/communities/bl-Savoonga.htm
The history of Savoonga from About.com
http://www.bssd.og/Pages/schools/sites/SAV/savoonga.htm
Hogarth Kingeekuk, Sr. Memorial School
