Yukon Relief Yukon Relief Expedition/Manitoban Expedition/Manitoban

Expedition 1898Expedition 1898by by Kerstin PhoenixKerstin Phoenix

February 4, 1898

‣Raging Blizzard

‣Left Bossekop, Norway on the Manitoban, Captain Braes

‣539 Reindeer, 418 Pulkas, 511 Reindeer harnesses, Herd dogs, and a large supply of Lichen

‣113 Passengers

February 27, 1898February 27, 1898

‣Arrive in New York after a very rough ocean crossing

‣Lost one deer, but all passengers survived

‣Loaded onto the Pennsylvania Railroad bound for Seattle

‣Arrive in New York after a very rough ocean crossing

‣Lost one deer, but all passengers survived

‣Loaded onto the Pennsylvania Railroad bound for Seattle

March 1, 1898

Group of Lapland (Sami) herders standing near a passenger train, 1898

March 7, 1898

The Ole Olsen Bær family (also spelled Bahr) photographed in 1898 at Woodland Park, Seattle waiting for the ship that will take them to Eaton Station, Unalakleet. (l-r) Ole Olsen Bær, his cousin

Anders Aslaksen Bær (known as Andy), Ole’s three year-old daughter Inger Anna Oldsdatter Bær, and his wife Inger

Clemetsdatter holding baby Klemet Olsen Bær in a gietka. The Bærs had six more children in Alaska.

Dehorned reindeer, Woodland Park, 1898

‣Arrived in Seattle, WA

‣10 day delay

‣No food for reindeer; 12 die

‣57 men and starving reindeer board a ship to Haines

Woodland Park

William Kjellman and young dehorned reindeer

Reindeer with entrance to Woodland Park in background

Seattle, WA1898

March 27, 1898‣Arrive in Haines

‣387 Reindeer die

‣April 5 16 men and 185 reindeer started up the Chilkat Pass

‣Reached Circle City on February 28, 1899 with only 116 reindeer

‣Meanwhile the rest return to Port Townsend

Dr. Sheldon Jackson and Government ReindeerMt. Ripinsky is in the background

Starting for the Chilkat Pass on Norway Sleds

Eaton Station

‣Jackson establishes Eaton Station

‣June 1898 leave Port Townsend

‣July 1898 arrive at Unalakleet

‣Berntina (Bernie) Kvaame Venes of Bethel, Alaska writes,

At long last, after nearly five months had gone by since they left Bossekop and their native soil, they were at their new homeland. We can imagine the relief that must have been to them for now they could begin what they had come all this distance and endured all the strange happenings to do. They could begin a new life in a new land.

Marit Persdatter Biti, Anders Johanneson Balto, and their daughter Maria at Eaton Station

BibliographyBarr, William2003 Review of The Yukon Relief Expedition and the Journal of Carl Johan Sakariassen. Arctic 56(1):92-93. Electronic document, http://arctic.synergiesprairies.ca/arctic/index.php/arctic/article/viewFile/681/707, accessed January 15, 2014.

Fjeld, Faith2010 The Alaska Sami: A Reindeer Story. Special issue, "Sami," Vesterheim 8(1):18-24. Electronic document, http://www.baiki.org/content/Vesterheim-A%20reindeer%20story.pdf, accessed January 15, 2014.

Fjeld, Faith and Nathan Muus2012 The Sami Reindeer People of Alaska. Shared Beringian Heritage Program of the National Park Service and the Center for Environmental Economic Development. Electronic document, http://www.nps.gov/akso/beringia/projects/Products/2007/CEED-Final%20Catalog-1-52(b).pdf, accessed January 15, 2014.

Jackson, Sheldon1898 Report on Introduction of Domestic Reindeer Into Alaska, vol. 8: United States. Bureau of Education. Alaska Division. Washington: Government Printing Office.

List of Photographs and Illustrations in Order of Appearance

Wilse and Kirk1898 Sami Reindeer Herders of the Lapland-Yukon Relief Expedition. University of Washington Libraries Special Collections Division, http://content.lib.washington.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/seattle&CISOPTR=2662&CISOBOX=1&REC=5, accessed January 17, 2014.

Norsk Folkeblad 1866 Ottawa (later renamed Manitoban) Allan Line steamship. http://www.norwayheritage.com/gallery/gallery.asp?action=viewimage&imageid=454&text=ottawa&categoryid=&box=&shownew=. accessed January 17, 2014.

New York Times1898 Reindeer Safe In Port. February 28.

Wilse, Anders Beer1898 Group of Lapland (Sami) herders standing near a passenger train, Lapland -Yukon Relief Expedition. University of Washington Libraries Special Collections Division, http://content.lib.washington.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/seattle&CISOPTR=2669&CISOBOX=1&REC=1, accessed January 15, 2014.

Wilse and Kirk1898 Sami reindeer herders of the Lapland-Yukon Relief Expedition, probably at Woodland Park. University of Washington Libraries Special Collections Division, http://content.lib.washington.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/seattle&CISOPTR=2676&CISOBOX=1&REC=7, accessed January 15, 2014.

List of Photographs and Illustrations in Order of Appearance Continued

Wilse, Anders Beer1898 Dehorned reindeer, Woodland Park. University of Washington Libraries Special Collections Division, http://content.lib.washington.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/seattle&CISOPTR=2666&CISOBOX=1&REC=1, accessed January 15, 2014.

Wilse, Anders Beer1898 William Kjellman and young dehorned reindeer. University of Washington Libraries Special Collections Division, http://content.lib.washington.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/seattle&CISOPTR=2665&CISOBOX=1&REC=4, accessed January 15, 2014.

Curtis, Asahel1898 Reindeer with entrance to Woodland Park in background, Seattle. University of Washington Libraries Special Collections Division, http://content.lib.washington.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/seattle&CISOPTR=191&CISOBOX=1&REC=4, accessed January 15, 2014.

Nelson, Andrea2006 Reindeer in the Chilkat Valley: A Piece of the Journey. Sheldon Museum and Cultural Center. Electronic document, http://www.sheldonmuseum.org/Vignettes/reindeer.htm, accessed January 15, 2014.

Dobbs 1898 Herders Marit Persdatter Biti Balto, Anders Johannesen Balto and their daughter Maria photographed at Eaton Reindeer Station. The collection of May Balto Huntington, http://www.baiki.org/content/alaskachron/1890.htm, accessed January 15, 2014.