Hullo from the far, frozen northland!

My name is Alaska.   I am Inuk (Inutpiat).  I am ten years old; I live  here in Alaska with my family.  I live in Umiat, which is southeast of Barrow.

I have my mother, father, grandmother, and my little brothers, who are twins.  Their names are Saqaq and Siniq, and they are two, just babies.  I had a little sister, Gemma, but she died of cancer when she was six.  (Had she not died, she would be nine now.  I still miss her so much!)

Ever since my sister died, I feel so alone.  Mamma tries to take away some of the sadness by spending time with me, but she's too busy wrapped up with the twins, and taking care of us.  Daddy hunts, so I don't see him much.

Mamma did work, but the plant where she worked shut down because of the economy, so she stays home now.  It's nice, but she worries about bills, and where we are going to get money so we can eat.

I go to school, but I don't like it.  The non-Native kids make fun of me, call me "Eskimo Pie" or worse names, and try to make me cry.  They often do; I seem to cry so easily, especially since Gemma died!

I like to listen to the radio, read (mostly "American Girl" books or easy readers; am not that good at reading yet), and draw.  I don't do that much; it's usually too cold to go outside, and half the time I'm babysitting Saqaq and Siniq, anyway.

I speak both Inutpiat and English; I speak Inutpiat at home; at school or if I'm around non-Native people, I speak in English.  I feel more comfortable speaking Inutpiat; it's my native language.

I write in both Inutpiat and English.  This time its' in English, so you non-Native people can read what I'm saying here.

Well, it's early (2 in the morning here in Alaska), so I will go now.  If mamma knew I was up now, she'd probably give me a good spanking for not being in bed.  I will write in here again another day.  Until then, this is your new friend saying so long for now!

~Alaska Maniq Quiiliiaaq, aged 10 years.