Taryn Williams has been a teacher in the Alutiiq village of Perryville (population, 88), located 500 miles southwest of Anchorage on the Alaska Peninsula, since autumn 2021. It’s a remote land of distinct immensity and beauty (even for Alaska) defined by tundra, coastline and nearby mountains crowned by an active volcano, Mt Veniaminof.
Taryn talks about many fascinating, unique topics, including:
*how the Alaskan “bush” is connected to the state’s more populous areas
*their subsistence diet of berries, tundra grass, caribou and salmon, among other items
*how she teaches all subjects to a classroom of grades 7 through 12
*preservation of Alutiiq culture
*the value of observation, respect and humility in engaging a different culture
*the importance of joining local hunting and fishing trips
Taryn finds hope in her students and how much they’ve accomplished and prepared themselves to confront the world.