Bristol Bay and Beyond

Bristol Bay and Beyond, May 15, 2015

KDLG 670AM

Published May 15, 2015 at 9:08 PM AKDT

Herring fishers in Dillingham, fisher poets in Oregon, salmon ear bones tell a tale, and a powerful voice for the region passes on.

Do you have ideas or feedback for us? Maybe you've written a poem, song, essay, taken a photo, or have someone in mind we should interview for Bristol Bay and Beyond.

Send an email with your comments and suggestions to news@kdlg.org, or reach the host at dave@kdlg.org.

The KDLG News line # is 907.842.2200

Bobby Andrew, 73, passed away this week. Andrew was an early and leading voice opposing Pebble Mine. He was buried Saturday in Aleknagik.

This is Bristol Bay and Beyond. Let’s remember an elder who passed away this week:

bbb_22_bobby_andrew_segment_web.mp3

"That was Bobby Andrew speaking at a public meeting in Dillingham in the summer of 2013, when EPA Adminsistrator Gina McCarthy came to hear directly from Bristol Bay about the region and the Pebble Mine. Bobby, as a spokesperson for Nunamta Aulukestai and in other roles, had been a leading advocate for protecting the region he was born and raised in. He passed away this week, at the age of 73, and was found at his cabin on Lake Aleknagik Tuesday. Since news of his passing, our email inbox has been flooded with warm remembrances of his life, his mentoring of youth, and his efforts to stop Pebble. Close friend and Nunamta co-worker Kim Williams stopped by Wednesday morning to offer some of her thoughts about Bobby Andrew"

051815_sara_andrew_web_eulogy.mp3

Sarah Andrew, daughter-in-law to Bobby Andrew, delivered a eulogy at the funeral service and shared that here as well ...

The F/V Skagerrak preparing to deliver. Photo taken by the "skiffman"

The Togiak herring fishery wrapped up Monday. The fishing happens a long way from where we sit here in Dillingham, so we’ve been eager to hear some stories as fishermen have returned. Hannah Colton caught up with the crew of the F/V Skagerrak when they got back Wednesday. Here’s what skipper Paul Friis-Mikkelsen, skiff man Kai Raymond, and John Friis-Mikkelsen had to say:

bbb_22_herring_intro.mp3

Listen here ...

The other gillnet seine boat that came back to Dilligham was the F/V Lady Mindy, skippered by Robert Heyano, who joins me now.

bbb_22_robert_herring_seg.mp3

Listen here ...

For several years, KDLG News has been following a study related to tracking salmon to their natal streams. Sean Brennan is now at the University of Washington's School of Aquatic and Fisheries Sciences. By sampling chemicals found in salmon earbones, or otoliths, Breenan believes he can identify where within a river system the salmon was born. Brennan published more findings Friday. As Hannah Colton reports, Brennan and his team hope their work will eventually provide more understanding of salmon runs all over the state.

051515_chinook_earbone_package.mp3

KDLG's Hannah Colton has more ...

Finally this week, for the past 18 years fishermen and -women, deckands, cannery workers, and others in the industry have gathered in February in Astoria, Oregon, to share poems, prose, song, and thought. The event is called the Fisher-Poets Gathering. This year, record crowds attended and some 90 took to the stage to perform. The event was started, with many others helping, by Bristol Bay fisherman Jon Broderick, who set nets at Nushagak Point. Jon joined me by phone from Oregon, ahead of his return to Dillingham for the season:

bbb_fisher_poets_seg.mp3

Listen here for poetry by Jon Broderick and Geno Leech.

That's it for this week's Bristol Bay and Beyond, our weekly newsmagazine on KDLG. We hope you join us each Friday at 12 noon and 6:30 p.m. on AM670, and at 8:30pm on 89.9 FM.

Send comments, suggestions, and other feedback to news@kdlg.org or dave@kdlg.org.

Have you taken a stellar photo this week that be our cover photo? Send it to us! We'll credit you and ask for more photos thereafter.