At Kuskokwim River fish camp, smokehouses fill with fish and tradition

On a sunny summer day, the quiet peace of a remote fish camp on a slow-moving branch of the Kuskokwim River became a crazy-busy place of heading and gutting, cutting and hanging.
The salmon were running, and Bethel elders Roy and Ida Alexie, along with daughters, grandkids and extended family, were catching them.
"I'll take the heart!" 6-year-old Alyssa "Frankie" Wassillie called out as her mom -- one of Ida's many nieces -- guided an ulu through the crunch of salmon bone and flesh.
Life at this Yup'ik camp blends deep traditions with modern twists, bursts of intense work with stretches of easy play and relaxation.
Read more at j.mp/YKfishcamp

[@icedclips725]

This is how more people should be living. I've worked with Natives from Alaska and they are some of the nicest and hardworking people you'll meet with a rich culture.

[@EastAsiaCreativeMedia]

I am surprised they threw the eggs away

[@poprockstar77]

Oh the lady raging about her salmon has my heart meltinggg

[@Po_hai]

Aunty’s voice is so soothing…

[@mwdub02]

Keep it native, and keep the good old way of life going....God bless

[@Agui007]

It keeps the creative flow going 😉👌🏼

[@tdog9073]

Quyana for saying that

[@shorty001ca]

😥 the elder brought me to tears

[@sophienben-achour5450]

Amazing! What lovely people and culture 👍🏽. The salmon looks so delicious! Ms. Ida is right, the color is so beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing.

[@nuttidad]

Love the baby's reaction playing in the bucket

[@petergoettler8680]

Love Smoked, Dried Salmon, My Wife And I.

[@normabenjamin6374]

My mouth water so much, my mom use to send me some, after she died, I have to imagine the taste from store bought, I miss my mom

[@aidanscuderi]

Loved the vid! The salmon smoking house is so cool!

[@CLepper61]

They shouldn't be restricted in catching salmon. Its been the people's way of living for a long while.

[@eheartbeat]

I believe the restrictions are industry wide to ensure no overfishing of Salmon for continued yearly harvests. While the regulations are necessary for the ecosystems to regenerate, it does seem like the only way to be free of these would be to eliminate the presence of non native commercial fishing altogether ;/

[@bipedal-ape-man]

They look pretty well fed tho

[@shrimptempuraasmr3742]

Her voice is so sweet and soothing

[@tj21bem]

I love the shot w/ the comfrey flower in the foreground

[@sandravalani359]

Awesome life affirminG video! Thanks deeply for sharinG!!!

[@jasonmurphy3433]

Great video

[@ianmckee1984]

What kind of wood is traditionally used to smoke the meat?

[@indikakandauda8002]

I love smoke salmon ❤

[@dgue7906]

Best fish that I ever tried

[@doenjangstew4438]

It looks like quite similar to drying fish methode on the east coast of Korean peninsular. and also two people's appearances are pretty similar.

[@nightofstars6802]

Does anyone know how I can get some of this fish? I am Alaskan Native in New Mexico due to very serious arthritis very homesick for our fish :(

[@WhiskeyToro]

I am opening a traditional Tlingit-smoked salmon business soon. My family is from Juneau and I currently live in California. I can ship it to you. Just message me privately for your details and we can talk. -Mike

[@johntaylor4787]

Looks like some of the best salmon I've ever seen. But, I'm curious, are any spices added for flavoring?

[@5222k]

Nope. Smoke, air, and time. Have you ever had sockeye or king salmon made this way? Any "seasonings" you could add ruin it. If you eat farm raised Atlantic salmon with the pink dye added..... then yeah. You need spices.

[@tdog9073]

@@5222k it’s really yummy dry fish

[@Alaskanzelda]

This is my family ❤

[@Lis2875]

Fish heaven! I would love to be there and eat it...

[@davidwelsh1487]

our food for the winter

[@jacobeksor6088]

I am Montagnard jarai indigenous I love smoke fish , you fish look so delicious .

[@72nortoncommando]

beautiful!

[@OutdoorFun01]

Wish I was there. From Québec.

[@davidwelsh1487]

thnx 4 ur time

[@baseballhaha]

I understand the traditions and storage reasons behind smoking. But y’all really should try to open your horizons and enjoy this wonderful fish in different ways. Butter and garlic, sushi style, mixed with different cheeses. So many wonderful uses for this amazing fish.

[@cyjeren1627]

❤❤❤

[@frostfire3493]

Awesome Video love it keep them coming. Wish I could come and help :)

[@victoriashiko7172]

Respect Culture people’s 👏🏽🙏🏽👌🏽 best

[@normabenjamin6374]

Sure do look good, wish I had some

[@nativoplantas2003]

Iam ready to have some my favorites

[@007vsMagua]

Shouldn't those eggs be turned into Red Caviar?

[@jjseandxcefree]

maybe i missed it; but at what stage is salt applied to the fish??

[@RickStewart1776]

Salt is one way of preserving, smoking is another. While they may add salt, it is not needed once the meat has been properly smoked. Besides, these will also be stored frozen during the winter. The fresh, Alaskan smoked salmon I had was not salted, although as a sea-fish, there was a slight salty flavor.

[@sgtXsasquatchX]

some dip the strips in brine witch is salt water to keep flies from laying eggs

[@alexadams920]

Can you wat the eggs?

[@interstategar]

Even here in NJ the native used to fish for Atlantic Salmon coming from the ocean into the Delaware Bay and up the Delaware River. Those days are long gone. The natives in South Jersey had plenty of seafood and deer etc to eat. There's still natives in 1 town called Bridgeton NJ where they are teaching their young their traditions. I live in a town, people litter, just no respect for the land we live on. Its stupid.

[@hendrixman1996]

Lenape?

[@Ryzler13]

Go Grandma, She knows she is teasing everyone. Try it with Honey and Lemon trust me nothing better.

[@quartzite4845]

Feed of that fish would be yum

[@DraGon-cg6ge]

Как солят рыбу?

[@maryjanemoore-lx1lg]

Mmmmmm yummmmmmm

[@19Sergei100]

С пивком бы.

[@bigal7713]

how come there are no flies?

[@dav1099]

or bears?

[@WhiskeyToro]

There are. They're just starting early on in the morning when it's too cold for them to come out, and by the time they're finished, they put them in the smokehouse. Flies can't handle smoke.

[@WhiskeyToro]

@@dav1099 The bears know to avoid humans. Humans are a Threat.

[@tdog9073]

There are bears and flies but u don’t see them

[@bluetoad2001]

show more fish smoking, tell about the wood used and the taste of the smoked salmon, please

[@chynashaw8226]

✌️😎

[@5222k]

City kids watching this be like "where are those little kids Iphones at?"

[@tdog9073]

Kids just play out side over here

[@fleacythesheepgirl]

Oh phish us oldsters and small town folk are on our phones just as much :)

[@adammiller4879]

Thats just a buffet /bear attack waiting to happen..

[@f1shk1LL3R]

This has been going on for centuries, I think they are safe from bears attacking

[@latintribe4411]

hey

[@mepipeline]

HMM, MUST BE GOOD, DO YOU EAT THE SKIN TOO...?

[@johnharrington4757]

clemente miranda yes you can buy smoked salmon at most stores and yes you eat the skin very yummy

[@codyferguson7120]

Dried salmon skin can be used to make the pain from a tooth ache go away. The scales and slim workntheir magic when a person chews on the area where they have a tooth ache. We also burn the skin over fried until it becomes crispy, add a little salt, and eat it like a potato chip.

[@assembleechretiennedelafam6717]

Nothoiugh

[@Mark-ej4uf]

disgusting but most of all cruel and brutal.

[@spaaggetii]

Are all Alaskans that are not criminals Indian looking (Tribal), because all the other youtube vids I watch, its usually white Alaskans or black alaskans being filmed from police footage. They have their uncles and Dads and etc all in jail and living with the female folk commiting crimes. Is it that cold and freezing that proper work and jobs are way to 'hard' for the Alaskan people?