38Talk:

Hi Jason,

 

I am a 4^th grade teacher in Hamden, Connecticut and have worked with the Mystic Seaport staff to create a year long unit and partnership focused on whales and whaling in America. This summer my students are reading “Ice Whale” by Jean Craighead George for their required summer read. The story begins in Barrow, Alaska in 1848 and focuses on a boy from the Yup’ik tribe who witnessed the birth of a bowhead whale. He is then banished from his land, as punishment, for guiding Yankee Whalers to the spot where many of the whales had migrated, hence killing them. You may have already read the book!

 

When you have the time, I would love to speak with you about helping my class in Connecticut connect with a class in (Barrow, or somewhere else) Alaska to form some sort of learning and working relationship. I currently teach a year long unit on maritime history and whaling, as I mentioned before, and I/we would absolutely be thrilled to be able to learn from students IN Alaska, who may know a thing or two about subsistence whaling and whaling culture there.  

 

Even if you are not able to help connect me to a school, I would be so appreciative just to have time to speak with you and hear about what you are doing. Perhaps you would be interested in skyping with my class this coming year and teaching us what you know! I would love to be able to create a deeper connection to the novel “Ice Whale” and when I saw your email this afternoon, a light bulb went off in my head.

 

Please feel free to email me at either

Emily.zeid@gmail.com

eschimelman@hamdenhall.org

 

Thank you so much. I really enjoyed looking at your blog!

I depart on the Charles W. Morgan on Tuesday and am sailing from Mass Maritime to Provincetown. I couldn’t be more excited!

 

I look forward to hearing from you,

Emily Schimelman

 

 

http://www.jeancraigheadgeorge.com/new.html

 

From: 38Talk@fer3.com [mailto:38Talk@fer3.com] On Behalf Of Jason Mancini
Sent: Sunday, July 06, 2014 4:40 PM
To: emily.zeid@gmail.com
Subject: Indian Mariners Project blog

 

Hi all:
I’m writing from the Inupiat Village of Point Lay in northern Alaska where I’ve been spending time with Kalimiut friends for the past week and a half.  If anyone is interested in seeing what I’ve been up to (along with two Mashantucket Pequot students I brought) or learning a little about the subsistence whaling cultures here please feel free to check out my blog/journal. It’s at http://indianmarinersproject.com/2014/06/29/alaska-cultural-exchange-summer-2014-field-journal/.  If you look in the July 2013 archives tab, you’ll find more from my visit here last summer.

It’s in the mid-upper 30s here, so will be looking forward to warmer temps on the Morgan. 
Cheers,
Jason

 

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