At 84 years old, Walter Toolie is the oldest elder in Savoonga. He moved to the village from Oregon when he was a little boy. He learned Yupik and spent his youth as many from Savoonga spend theirs: hunting, trapping, and fishing.

He remembers how to prepare for whaling hunts and his first successful walrus catch, and he recalls one year when he caught over 200 Arctic foxes.

Walter raised a family in Savoonga and, other than some work-related sojourns to Nome, Anchorage, and other cities in Alaska, he remained there his entire life. He even joined the Territorial Guard (and later the National Guard), retiring after 10 years of service for health issues.

Walter remains an avid hunter and shares his experience with his children and grandchildren, in Savoonga and beyond.

Hear this Elder Voices episode.