I've been part of this fishery since I was 4. We homesteaded in Kokhanok, on Lake Iliamna, the destination of the largest red salmon run in the world now at risk from the possible development of the Pebble Mine for copper and gold. We moved to Naknek ("Muddy Place") when I was 4 and after 4 years, on to Seattle. My father ran the drift boat and my mom, the setnetting. She quit her nursing job every spring to bring herself and six kids back to the fishing grounds for months of salmon, freedom, and renewal. My kids have been fishing since before they were born, first specializing in the freedom of the life and the joys to be found on the cliff, eventually becoming important contributors to the family business with David and Sarah (my dream daughter-in-law) taking it to the next level with Naknek Seafood. Their goal is to make the best food in the world affordable and accessible to everyone who wants it. David, Sarah, and I awaited Alex's return to fishing. He said it was home to him. But he was killed in an accident on June 30, 2012 halfway around the world. We will find him in his beloved tundra, on the cliff and in the bouncing waves.
No comments:
Post a Comment