Margie Attla

Mike Spindler and Clinton Brown interviewed Margie Attla in Galena on November 14, 2002. The interview was edited and produced by Clinton Brown.

MARGIE ATTLA was born in spring camp on the Kanuti Flats east of Allakaket in 1941. Her father was Walter Koyukuk and mother was Mary David. Prior to attending elementary school, she lived nomadically with her parents, moving around among various camps. During her school years Margie lived in Allakaket until she left at the age of 17. She moved to Huslia, where she met her husband, Robert Attla, and married him in 1964. They lived in Huslia until 1964, when they moved to Cleveland, Ohio. Margie and family returned to Alaska in 1969. In 1974 they moved to Galena, where they have resided ever since. Margie and Bob had three children, 2 daughters and one son, who died young. Margie worked for the Tanana Chief's Conference for 14 years as their Health and Safety Educator for the Galena subregion. In 2002 Margie began to work for the Galena Mental Health Clinic as a Counselor. Margie is a key person on the Galena Search and Rescue Board and on the Galena KIYU Public Radio Board. Margie speaks fluent Koyukon language and has worked on Koyukon language preservation projects. Margie also helps organize the Koyukon Jamboree, a regional fiddle festival held each fall. She and her husband Bob actively conduct subsistence activities, including berry picking, salmon fishing, beaver trapping, and moose hunting. At times they have hosted groups of youth at their fish camp along the Yukon river.

The goal of Raven's Story is to record elders' stories, observations, and experiences relating to wildlife, fish, and subsistence in the Koyukuk and middle Yukon areas of interior Alaska. This Raven's Story was produced by Clinton Brown at public radio station KIYU-AM in Galena, Alaska, with the support of Louden Tribal Council and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.