Alaska natives of the Aleutian Islands. Aleuts who lived in Unalaska on the Bering Sea. A book for children.
SYNOPSIS
Caught off guard by the violent storm, Carl was physically flung from his boat onto a hard gravelly beach, coughing and gasping for air.Freezing and scared out of his mind, he knew he had to have help immediately if he was to survive the icy waters of the Bering Sea.Carl was a young boy living in Unalaska interested only in boats, motors, fishing and wildlife.However, the Shaman of Carl’s long ago past had other ideas and had sought the wisdom of the Great Eagle Spirit to help unite his people with those in Carl’s world today.Little did Carl know that today his life would be changed in a way he could never have imagined.
Carl is rescued by Altug, a Unangan from his far distant past and takes him on a journey to meet his ancestors where they once lived in his very own village of Unalaska.He comes face to face with the Shaman of Unalaska and receives a message from him.He wants Carl to re-tie the cultural threads that have been torn apart, so that those who come after will not forget those who came first.Carl also has the unique opportunity to witness the great cataclysmic event that forever changed the lives of the Unangan people.
In the beginning it took immense courage for Carl’s ancestors to begin their epic trek from their original homeland, far to the north, to the Aleutian Islands.Their effort and determination becomes a great source of inspiration and sense of pride to Carl, and he discovers that the lessons from the past were valuable and that those same lessons were just as relevant to his life today.Life is a series of stepping stones and Carl has just taken his first step.
Carl wakes up the following morning on the beach next to his overturned boat and wonders if he was dreaming. He is rescued by his grandfather and has a new appreciation for him and his ancestry.
