Ulġuniq (Wainwright)
Wainwright is located on the Chukchi Sea approximately 70 miles southwest of Utqiaġvik and 300 miles north of the Arctic Circle. Wainwright is situated on a spit of land between the Chukchi Sea and Wainwright Inlet. The lagoon of Wainwright Inlet is fed by waters from the Kuk River. The Iñupiaq name for Wainwright is Ulġuniq.
The land and sea provide bountiful harvest opportunities in Ulġuniq (Wainwright). Spring and fall bowhead whaling are significant harvest activities for the community. Caribou are hunted through much of the year as well as different species of seals. Spring and fall bird hunting and summer and winter ice fishing fill every season with important harvest activities.
Jason Ahmaogak has been observing for AAOKH since 2025. Jason is a local whaling captain who loves hunting and fishing to provide for his family and extended family. The AAOKH database also includes observations made by Steven Patkotak between 2018 and 2022.
Jason's seasonal calendar (click to enlarge)
The diagram depicts what is considered to be the normal timing of important harvest activities and the ice cycles by Jason Ahmaogak.
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.
