Tikiġaq (Point Hope)
Guy Omnik, Tikiġaq (since 2019)
Tikiġaq is located above the Arctic Circle in northern Alaska. It is situated on a spit of land which points west into the Chukchi Sea. The sea and inland just north of Cape Lisbourne and south of Cape Thompson provide areas important for subsistence hunting and fishing.
Tikiġaq is one of the longest continually inhabited regions in North America with a rich archeological record dating back 2,500 years. Tikiġaq relies heavily on sea ice and predictable weather patterns for travel and subsistence hunting of marine mammals in the area.
Guy Omnik has contributed observations since 2019. In his observations you will find stunning photographs and descriptions of the whaling, hunting, and fishing conditions throughout the year.
Guy's seasonal calendar (click to enlarge)
In the image, Guy Omnik shared what he considers to be the normal timing of important harvest activities and timing of the ice cycles.
This circular seasonal calendar illustrates ice conditions and subsistence harvesting activities across twelve months. The outer bands track ice safety, showing safe travel on sea and lagoon ice from roughly December through April, break-up and open water during summer, and freeze-up in autumn.
The inner rings map harvesting windows for wildlife: caribou and ice fishing span late autumn to winter; geese, seals (ringed and bearded), and whales (beluga and bowhead) are hunted during spring and summer open-water periods; and rod fishing and berry gathering occur in late summer.
