King Island, Alaska

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Alaska
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King Island is an island in the Bering Sea, west of Alaska. It is about 64 km (40 miles) west of Cape Douglas and is south of Wales, Alaska.

The island is about 1.6 km (1 mile) wide. It was once the winter home of a group of about 200 Inupiat who called themselves Aseuluk. The Aseuluk spent their winters engaging in subsistence hunting on King Island and their summers engaging in similar activities on the mainland near the location of present-day Nome, Alaska. Their name for the island was Ukivuk. After the establishment of Nome, the islanders began to sell intricate carvings to residents of Nome during the summer. By 1970, all King Island people had moved to Nome year-round.

In 2005 and 2006 the National Science Foundation (NSF) funded a research project which brought a few King Island natives back to the Island. Some participants had not been back to the island in 50 years. The King Island Community eagerly awaits the projects results.

The island was discovered by Captain Cook in 1778 and named for Lt. James King, a member of his party. It is part of the Bering Sea unit of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge.

ee also

* King Island Native Community

External links

* [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22730025/ Ancient mask returned to Alaska ghost village] , MSNBC, January 18, 2008