Chief Henry was recorded by Jim Schrock in Huslia, Alaska in 1973

    This sound recording is one example from over 300 tapes collected in the 1970s as a joint project of the Alaska Humanities Forum and the Alaska State Library. Songs and Legends (H91-12-42) consists of recordings both songs and stories made with Alaskan Native elders from around the state, usually in the elder´s own language. Copies are extant in archives of the Alaska and Polar Regions Department, Rasmuson Library, University of Alaska Fairbanks.

    Huslia, an Athabascan village with somewhat fewer than three hundred inhabitants, is located on the north bank of the Koyukok River approximately 290 air miles from Fairbanks. Early Koyukon Athabascans who lived between the south fork of the Koyukuk River and the Kateel River traveled between spring, fall, and winter camps as the wild game migrated. In summer many villagers fished for salmon. By 1843, Russian explorers had made contact with native Athabascans approximately 50 miles from the current village. The Western Union Telegraph Company explored the area around 1867 and missionaries evangelized its indigenous peoples after 1870. In the 1920s a trading post was established approximately 4 miles over land, or 16 river miles, from the current location.

Listen to:
Song from Old Man Nikoli
of Tanana (0:44)