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ABOUT NASUĠRAQ RAINEY HOPSON

Arctic Roots

I am a tribally enrolled Inupiaq born in Barrow Alaska (now known as Utqiagvik), and raised in Point Hope Alaska where my mother is from. I have two brothers, and one sister, all younger siblings. I am married and we are raising our amazing daughters in Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska where my husband is originally from. It’s very tiny, very beautiful Native village in the remote Brooks Range. We live a predominantly subsistence life, which means we harvest animals and plants from the wild of the arctic for a good portion of our food. We do as much as we can to preserve traditional Inupiaq values and knowledge this way.

Currently I have a BA degree in Studio art from Humboldt State University in Northern California, and a couple other ‘almost’ degrees in things like Philosophy, Marine Biology, and even an almost Masters degree in Education. I have worked many amazing jobs and projects that tapped into my creativity and have colored my worldview over the years, they include being a middle school and high school art teacher, co-producing an Inupiat documentary, creating visual content for our school district that is culturally accurate, metalsmithing, jewelry making, and even competing in speech giving through high school and into college. I am passionate about all things indigenous and creative that focuses on traditional knowledge, with reclamation of our culture being priority. I run a small seasonal arctic agriculture business along with my Esty shop SalmonberryDreams. Creating things for others to appreciate and understand our unique Indigenous experience and to create content and items that our people can see themselves reflected in...is my goal in everything I do.

To read more about my food growing endeavors please visit: Gardens in the Arctic.

Favorite books: Dragonriders of Pern series by Anne McCaffrey, Two Old Women by Velma Wallis, The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline, Enders Game by Orson Scott Card.


Favorite Children's books: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, Whale Snow by Debby Dahl Edwardson,  We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom an Michaela Goade

Favorite visual Artists:  Rene Magritte, Kenojuak Ashevak, Michael Whelan

Other books I recommend: 

Bird Girl and the man who followed the Sun by Velma Wallis

Ancestor Approved: Intertribal stories for Kids Edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Hearts unbroken by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Indian Shoes by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger

My Name is not Easy by Debby Dahl Ewardson

How I became a Ghost by  Tim Tingle

House of Purple Cedar by Tim Tingle

Apple in the Middle by Dawn Quigley

The Sea in Winter by Christine Day

Fire Keepers Daughter by Angeline Boulley

Fry Bread by Kevin Noble Maillard and illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal

About: About
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