Hazel Apok: Interview Outline: Section 12 Naming of Hazel's daughter, being adopted, and being blessed with a big family Tape Reference Number: H2002-09-13 Hazel spoke with Bill Burke in Fairbanks, Alaska on April 3, 2002.

Hazel Apok: I didn't get to know -- I had named my daughter Sheryl Marie. My daughter is the oldest of my two -- and my son. And I didn't know I named my daughter after my two younger sisters from my father's side. The older one I have, there's Cathy, Louise, Grace, Sheryl and Marie. And my daughters name is Sheryl Marie and I thought that was interesting.

I didn't get to know my biological father's family until after I was married -- they started coming around. And now I -- I love visiting with them. And I am forever grateful I was adopted. I'm forever grateful that I grew up with an elderly couple that's keeping the language alive through me, our language, that I can remember things about how I grew up and what it took to survive them days. And it's all about survival in a harsh environment. And I'm -- when I hear stories about adoptees and -- and all the things that they go through, you know, their emotional state, I am grateful that my parents always told me from day -- from as long as I could remember that I was adopted, you know.

My husband -- my current husband is adopted, too. And he's going through something, you know, that I am trying to help him with. He feels like he has been abandoned. And some of the things that he goes through now are because of his current -- or his adoptive family and how he was raised. We compare notes.

I mean, it's just -- I just feel so blessed with the huge family that I have. I just feel so blessed with the life that I have had. It's been an amazing one. And I'm real grateful. And I have a lot more work to do though. And I'm grateful to be a part of this project.

Bill Burke: Well, thanks Hazel.

Hazel Apok: Uh-hum.

Bill Burke: It was nice listening to you.

Hazel Apok: Yeah.

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