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25-469: Nunivak has only one permanent settlement, Mekoryuk , on the north shore, with about 200 residents. In the 1880 United States Census , Ivan Petrof recorded 702 residents in nine villages on the island. An epidemic in 1900 decimated the population of the island. Emigration keeps the population small. Noted persons who have visited Nunivak include journalist Jon Lee Anderson , photographer Edward S. Curtis , Anne Makepeace, anthropologist Margaret Lantis, and

50-409: A household in the city was $ 30,833, and the median income for a family was $ 33,750. Males had a median income of $ 25,417 versus $ 11,667 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 11,958. About 13.7% of families and 21.9% of the population were below the poverty line , including 36.7% of those under the age of eighteen and 15.8% of those 65 or over. Lower Kuskokwim School District operates

75-632: Is a city located on Nunivak Island in the Bethel Census Area, Alaska , United States. At the 2010 census the population was 191, down from 210 in 2000. Nunivak Island has been inhabited for 2,000 years by the Nuniwarmiut, or Nunivak Cup'ig people . The community's first contact with Europeans was in 1821 when explorers from the Russian-American Company arrived on their island. These Russians recorded 400 people living in 16 villages on

100-459: Is dotted with about 60 cinder cones and four maars . Much of its surface consists of widespread, thin flows of pahoehoe lava from small shield volcanoes , which spread over sedimentary rock of the Cretaceous period. Volcanic eruptions took place during 5 periods of activity beginning 6.1 million years ago. Most of the volcanic field was formed during the two most recent eruptive periods during

125-480: Is the first language for many older islanders and is enjoying a dedicated revival among younger islanders as well, although nearly all Nuniwarmiut (Nunivak people) speak English. The people of Nunivak Island still depend to a large degree on subsistence hunting, and also commercial fishing and industrial work on the mainland. Nunivak Island is volcanic in origin; most of the island is dominated by volcanic plateau 500 ft (160 m) or more above sea level. The island

150-616: Is used for the Nunivak Island Yup'ik dialect and the name Cup'ik (with k) is used for Hooper Bay-Chevak Yup'ik dialect. The Cup'ig dialect is threatened. This fact was documented by Dr. Michael E. Krauss of the Alaska Native Language Center at the University of Alaska and is illustrated on the map. In 1975, Krauss indicated, "Some of the children speak the language". Krauss documented continued decline and downgraded

175-576: The Bering Sea . The island lies 48 km (30 mi) west of the Alaska coast. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 7.4 square miles (19 km ), of which, 7.4 square miles (19 km ) of it is land and 0.14% is water. Mekoryuk has a tundra climate ( Köppen : ET ), that borders on a subarctic climate ( Köppen : Dfc ). Mekoryuk first appeared on

200-711: The Nunivak Island by Nunivak Cup'ig people (own name Cup'it or Nuniwarmiut ). The letter " c " in the Yup’ik alphabet is equivalent to the English alphabet " ch ". The Central Alaskan Yupik who live on Nunivak Island ( Nuniwar in Nunivak Cup'ig, Nunivaaq in Central Yup'ik ) call themselves Cup'ig (plural Cup'it ). Those who live in the village of Chevak call themselves Cup'ik (plural Cup'it ). The name Cup'ig (with g)

225-539: The Pleistocene ending about 300,000 years ago. Because of the history of volcanic activity, it is considered part of the Bering Sea Volcanic Province . The Ibkilwit Lava Bed is located on Nunivak Island. Tundra is the main landscape feature; the largest trees on Nunivak are dwarf willow trees, most less than 4 ft (1.2 m) tall. More than 40 rivers drain the tundra upland. Brackish lagoons ring

250-613: The 1880 U.S. Census as an unincorporated island, with 400 Yupik residents. In 1890, the villages on the island reported separately. It next reported in 1910 for the entire island through to 1940. Since 1950, any settlements on the island have reported separately again, though all residents now reside in Mekoryuk as of 2000 and 2010. 60°05′42″N 166°12′40″W  /  60.09500°N 166.21111°W  / 60.09500; -166.21111 Mekoryuk, Alaska Mekoryuk ( Nunivak Cup'ig : Mikuryarmiut ; Central Yup'ik : Mikuryar )

275-419: The 1950 U.S. Census as "Mekoryok." It appeared as the current spelling in 1960. It was formally incorporated in 1969. As of the census of 2000, there were 210 people, 73 households, and 48 families residing in the city. The population density was 28.5 inhabitants per square mile (11.0/km ). There were 96 housing units at an average density of 13.0 units per square mile (5.0 units/km ). The racial makeup of

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300-536: The Nunivak Island in 1934 in an effort to save the species from extinction. Today, the musk-ox herd numbers around 500, and calves from this herd have been relocated and introduced to other areas of Alaska. In the mid-20th century, Mekoryuk became the only permanent population center on the island. Until the 1940s, the traditional lifestyle and traditional ceremonies and religious beliefs were practiced. The 1950s and 1960s brought considerable change. Mekoryuk Airport

325-480: The Nunivak Island. While conducting the 1880 United States Census , Ivan Petrof recorded 702 Yup'ik in 9 villages, including 117 people at "Koot", near the site of present-day Mekoryuk. An epidemic in 1900 left only four surviving families in the village. In the 1930s, the Evangelical Covenant Church was built at Mekoryuk, followed by a school in 1939. People moved to the village from other areas of

350-567: The Nuniwarmiut School, K-12. In 1984 the building was constructed. Sale, importation and possession of alcohol are banned in the village. 60°23′21″N 166°12′25″W  /  60.389278°N 166.207082°W  / 60.389278; -166.207082 Nunivak Cup%27ig language Nunivak Cup'ig or just Cup'ig (own name Cugtun ) is a language or separate dialect of Central Alaskan Yup'ik spoken in Central Alaska at

375-425: The artist Muriel Hannah. Noted conservationist and outdoorsman Steven Rinella aired an episode of his television show Meat Eater in 2015 where he experienced a muskox hunt and explored the history and culture of the island and its people. Nearly all the permanent residents of Nunivak are Cup'it Eskimo , whose traditional language is a dialect of Central Alaskan Yup'ik known as Cup'ig or Nunivak Cup'ig . Cup'ig

400-470: The city was 3.33% White , 90.48% Native American , and 6.19% from two or more races. 0.48% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 73 households, out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.2% were married couples living together, 15.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.7% had someone living alone who

425-442: The eastern and southern shores, and steep, volcanic cliffs dominate the northwest shores. At least 89 migratory seabird and waterfowl species have seasonal homes on Nunivak Island, including several endangered and threatened species. Dense summer-breeding rookeries are found on all shores of the island, and in inland tundra lakes. Prehistorically, Nunivak was home to a modest herd of caribou , but these were exterminated after

450-506: The introduction of firearms in the late 19th and early 20th century. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service introduced reindeer (the smaller Eurasian caribou) and musk oxen onto the island in the 1930s and 1940s. Large herds of these animals are maintained by the local Native Corporation of Mekoryuk . The muskoxen are most valued for their wool, or qiviut , which is collected after the animals shed in springtime for spinning into yarn, with one skein sometimes selling for $ 100. Most of

475-702: The island is part of the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge , administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service . The southern half of the island (600,000 acres) is protected as the Nunivak Wilderness. The art of Nunivak Island has its roots in the ancient past. The oldest known sculpture is thousands of years old. In the ancient times masks were made to sell or trade for goods needed to survive. Later masks were intended for festivities, dances , and traditional healing. This type of mask (there are many types of masks carved today) represents

500-455: The island to be near the school. Reindeer herding was introduced in 1920 by an Eskimo-Russian trader. The operation was purchased by the United States government in the 1940s and a slaughterhouse was built in 1945. The reindeer were crossed with caribou from Denali Park . The resulting animals were larger and less tame than other reindeer. 34 musk ox from Greenland were transferred to

525-521: The life surrounding Nunivak Island. The walrus is what the loon depends on for survival. And, in turn, man depends on the loon and the walrus for survival. These are two of the traditional animals that were hunted by the men of the village in order to provide for their families. The walrus is what the Nunivak peoples depended on to survive. It held much of the necessities of living in the Bering Sea. The skin of

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550-633: The status to "Very few or none of the children speak the language" in 1982. Today Cup'ig is spoken by elders in the village of Mekoryuk . The comparison of number names in the three dialects The grammatical numbers: The Cup'ig peoples' only school, the Nuniwarmiut School (P/K-12th grade), lies within the Lower Kuskokwim School District , in the village of Mekoryuk. Built in 1984, the school provides English and Cup’ig bilingual education for 32 students. Nuniwarmiut Piciryarata Tamaryalkuti, Inc. (literally, "Nunivak Cultural Programs")

575-418: The walrus was used for waterproofing kayaks, the soles of mukluks ( Cup'ig boots ), and the intestine was used as waterproof rain gear that were of great necessity in earlier times. The bones were used as tools, the ivory for spear heads, and harpoon heads and carvings were made for trade. Also the loon pelts were transformed into beautiful winter coats that were also waterproof. Nunivak Island first reported on

600-459: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.77. In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 32.4% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 116.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 136.7 males. The median income for

625-483: Was built in 1957. When the Territorial Guard was formed, men were sent to Fort Richardson near Anchorage for training. During this time, many families moved to Bethel during the winter to be near the high school, returning in the spring for fishing and sea mammal hunting. A high school was constructed in Mekoryuk in 1978. Mekoryuk is located at the mouth of Shoal Bay on the north shore of Nunivak Island in

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