Ellen Savage's Stories
Biography
Ellen Hunter Savage was born in September of 1919 at 7-mile above Shageluk when her mother was berry picking. She and her sister Violet were raised in Shageluk by their parents, Jane and Nikolai Hunter who lived a traditional subsistence lifestyle. They always spoke the Deg Xinag language although Ellen did go to school in Shageluk and learned English because her mother said she would need to know it.
When Ellen was 16 she married Pius Savage and moved to his home village of Holy Cross. They had 15 children and raised them there and at fishcamp in the summers. In 1970 the family moved to Anchorage.
Ellen continued to use her own language after moving to the city. She told stories, taught traditional songs and created new ones. She also worked with several language programs to help preserve her Native language which was an important part of her culture and very precious to her. In addition to working on the Deg Xinag Learner’s Dictionary she recorded many hours of stories, both traditional and personal for the Anvik Historical Society.
Ellen passed away in Anchorage, AK, on October 11, 2004.
Ellen Savage Xidhoy — Ellen’s Stories
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| Title | Audio | Transcription |
|---|---|---|
| Nasiyonh Growing Up | Audio (.mp3) | Transcript (.pdf) |
| Singonh sinughił didighene’ Mother's teachings | Audio (.mp3) | Transcript (.pdf) |
| Sito’ tr’eyh itltsenh My Father made a canoe | Audio (.mp3) | Transcript (.pdf) |
| Ngan’ Dit’anh Earthquake | Audio (.mp3) | Transcript (.pdf) |
| Xintthe q’unt’ux xiy naghitl’an xiy The first time I saw an airplane | Audio (.mp3) | Transcript (.pdf) |
| Xintthe siyił genitht’uq The first time I flew in an airplane | Audio (.mp3) | Transcript (.pdf) |
| Sughidonh ndadz xo’in viyił ntasiyo How I went with my husband (part 1) | Audio (.mp3) | Transcript (.pdf) |
| Sughidonh ndadz xo’in viyił ntasiyo How I went with my husband (part 2) | Audio (.mp3) | Transcript (.pdf) |