Yuuyaraq by:Harold Napoleon

Yuuyaraq is a well written book about an Alaska native from the Bering Sea coast region, and it tells a story of the "Great Death", and how Nepoleon  believes that the disaster has had an effect on the alcoholism in rural Alaska. He speaks of the traditional ways of the proud indigenous peoples of Alaska and how in a brief period in time the Great Death had almost destroyed whole civilizations. It was an horrific event that had killed families and even whole villages. He explains that in the after math of the great death, the survivors were so depressed they had let outsiders come and take over our lands and how every thing has led to the alcoholism of our people.

This was written very well and I would suggest this book to anyone who like to read this!!!

I believe the disaster may have had on effect on our people, but from what i've seen many people choose to drink because they have problems and they want to "escape" reality, and don't know how to deal with these problems. Nepoleon states, "Veterans, victims, and witnesses of other violent and traumatic events, had found in liquor, a narcotic which numbered in their troubled minds." Nepoleon makes a good point, but another "reason" I believe is that when people are young they sometimes get peer pressured into drinking. As they get older they drink more often, and eventually it gets out of control. Also if you grow up around drugs and alcohol you are more likely to become an abuser yourself. The largest "reason" that i've seen, is because the abuser has a low self-esteem and they want their troubles to "go away." It is a depressing cycle thats been happening since this poison has been introduced to our people.  

MARK TUBIN