Annie Cungauyar Blue passed away peacefully at her home in Togiak on November 4, 2013, she was 97 years old.

Born on February 21, 1916, in Qissagyaaq, a remote camp on the Togiak River in Bristol Bay, Alaska, Annie Blue was thoroughly educated in the traditional ways of Yup’ik life, learning from her Elders how to sew, cook and gather food in a subsistence lifestyle, and how to tell the oral history of her people. In turn, she became a wisdom bearer for younger generations and was always eager to share the crafts and insights of her indigenous culture.

Annie received the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 2009. With her deep and extensive knowledge of the Yup’ik way of life and her renowned abilities as a traditional storyteller, Annie was an invaluable resource for young learners and professional researchers alike. Her work, directly and indirectly, has appeared in the village schools, literary publications and international museums, among other places, but her personal effect on the lives of students and teachers can never be measured.

Annie was a 2007-2008 HAIL (Honoring Alaska’s Indigenous Literature) award recipient for her book “Cungauyaraam Qulirai: Annie Blue’s Stories.” When asked how she became a storyteller, she credited Saveskar, the storyteller in her village.

Annie’s love and respect for her Yup’ik heritage, and her lifelong commitment to helping record it, ensured that its priceless legacy will be preserved for future generations of Yup’ik school children and for scholars of Alaska Native indigenous cultures throughout the State and around the world.

“Annie Blue will be remembered fondly by all,” said Joseph Chythlook, Bristol Bay Native Corporation Board Chairman. “She will live on through the many stories that she shared with us.”

Our thoughts and prayers are with Annie’s family and friends during this difficult time.

This article was re-published with the permission of the Bristol Bay Native Corporation.

Source: BBNC Blog