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Galena |
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Galena, Alaska is on the north bank of the Yukon River, 45 miles east of Nulato, 270 air miles west of
Fairbanks, and Northeast of the Innoko National Wildlife Refuge.
Temperature extremes in the area have been measured from -64°F to
92°F. In alternate years, Galena is a checkpoint on the historic
Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.
Historically, the semi-nomadic Koyukon Athabascan people of the Galena area had different spring, summer, fall, and winter camps, and moved as the fish and wild game migrated. In 1918, the settlement of Galena was established near Henry's Point, an old Athabascan fish camp. The town became a supply and trans-shipment point for nearby lead ore mines. In 1920, the residents of the community of Louden, about 14 miles upriver, began moving to Galena to sell wood to steamboats and to work hauling freight for the mines. Many present-day residents of Galena are descended from the people who migrated from Louden. The first Galena school was established in the mid-1920s, and a post office opened in 1932. After the Galena Air Field was constructed in World War II, there was significant subsequent growth of the transportation and military facilities infrastructure during the 1950s. While the Air Force Station at Galena was closed in 1993, the base is currently being used by the Galena School District as a Boarding School. In 1945, Galena suffered a major flood. After another significant flood in 1971, a new community site was developed at Alexander Lake, about 1 1/2 miles east of the original townsite. City offices, the health clinic, schools, washeteria, store, and more than 150 homes were constructed at "New Town," and the current City government was formed.
Today, the Galena population is mixed Athabascan and non-Native. The
community serves as a hub for outlying villages, and traditional festivals attract visitors from
all over the
region. While federal, state, and municipal infrastructure jobs
predominate, subsistence activities and seasonal work also represent
significant aspects of the Galena economy. Mining has declined following
the closure of the Illinois Creek Gold Mine due to low market prices.
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| Audio Samples from the Koyukon Conference held in Galena, 2004: | |||||
| Alda Frank - "Family" | |||||
| Alda Frank - translated | |||||
| Alda Frank - "Fathers Stories" | |||||
| Alda Frank - "Kids Need to Know" | |||||
| Alda Frank - "Old Weather Forecasting" | |||||
| Alda Frank - "Stories & Language" | |||||
| Sidney Huntington - On Stories | |||||
| Lilian Olin | |||||
| Margie - "Boat Trip" | |||||
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Home | About - Contact - Credits | Index of Communities & Media Content | FAQ | Support | Links | Site Use |
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©2004-2005
Big River Public Broadcasting, Inc., All Rights Reserved. |
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