Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – When considering what Alaska and Presque Isle have in common, snow, moose and evergreens probably top the list. There’s also another common bond between the Star City and the small community of Bethel, Alaska – Dr. William F. Bergen.
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
William F. Bergen, DO, holds one of the many dolls he and his wife, Mary, collected during their five years living in Bethel, Alaska. During that time, Bergen served as physician to the residents of the isolated community, where he also gained a better understanding and appreciation for the Yup’ik Eskimos. The Yup’iks take pride in their handcrafted artwork, as did the Bergens who have numerous items on display around their home, ranging from lifelike dolls in fur attire to finely carved ivory pieces. Dr. Bergen now has a book out highlighting his life in Alaska entitled “We Took to the Tundra: An Osteopathic Family Among the Yup’ik Eskimos.”
Bergen spent five years, from 1991-1996, in Bethel where he served as the sole family physician at the Bethel Family Clinic, a facility that treated primarily non-Native American residents of the area. He was joined in Alaska by his wife, Mary, and daughter, Jayne. During his tenure as doctor in one of the most remote Alaskan communities, Bergen met and befriended a number of local Yup’ik Eskimos. During his stay, Bergen kept a journal of his life in Alaska, noting memorable moments, from days spent at the clinic to his experiences with the Yup’iks.
Those notes have now been turned into a novel, entitled “We Took to the Tundra: An Osteopathic Family Among the Yup’ik Eskimos.”
“My time in Alaska was kind of like the television show, ‘Northern Exposure.’ I was the only doctor serving a very rural community,” said Bergen.
A doctor had offered to buy my Kennebunk practice – a clinic I’d run for about 20 years – so I’d been considering options, including serving in the Peace Corps in Africa. Joe, my son, suggested going to Alaska, so Mary and I made the initial trip in a motor home,” said Bergen.
Bergen described Bethel as a the main community of the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta.
“The Delta is the size of all New England. Bethel is the largest of 55 villages. The average population is 350,” he said.
Bergen’s book focuses on the uniqueness of the region, including its remoteness and the ingenuity of its residents.
“The Yup’iks are talented people – very creative. Their artwork includes natural materials like furs and ivory. Each piece tells a story,” said Bergen, as he showed off a number of handcrafted items, including dolls, masks and carvings, he acquired during his stay in Alaska.
Bergen said his goal in writing the book was to bring awareness to the plight of such Native Americans and awareness of their many talents and resourcefulness.
“I really loved it there. It was a great adventure,” said Bergen. “The Yup’ik Eskimos are wonderful, unique people. They’ve been sequestered for generations.”
Separated from the rest of Alaska by what Bergen called “a horseshoe of mountains,” the region is quite isolated and accessible primarily by plane.
“There are very few roads. You could drive about two miles from Bethel and hit tundra. The nearest road was about 400 miles away. Dogsleds are still a primary means of travel,” said Bergen, “as well we barges, weather permitting.”
Bergen said the Yup’iks were wonderful people.
“They’re the last intact Native American group. They were self-sufficient until white people destroyed that – tried to change how they lived. They were nomads made to settle in villages to educate their children,” said Bergen.
Bergen was approached by a museum about the possible borrowing of parts of his artwork collection. The text has also drawn attention as a possible classroom text. Having received his anthropology degree from USM in 1991, Bergen took great interest in noting details for his text and was pleased to learn students might be using it as an educational tool. He’s hoping to work with the SAGE program locally as well.
“The Hudson Museum (at Orono) had exhibits of all but the Yup’ik people. We loaned them a lot of our collection,” said Bergen. “I’m hoping to work with the SAGE program in October – hope to have an exhibit ready at that time.”
Best known as fishermen, relying heavily on salmon trade for their livelihood, the Yup’iks have had to subsidize their income with sales of their artwork. Even prisoners of native decent devote much of their time to crafts.
“As the sole doctor in the area, one of my duties was to visit the prison regularly. While there, I’d often purchase pieces from the gift shop – handmade items, like carved ivory, made by prisoners,” said Bergen.
Bergen noted how artwork not only tells stories but that some depicts the continuity in nature.
“The circle-dot art theme is exhibited in many pieces, as a symbol of the continuity of life – oneness between animals and people, the oneness in nature. For the Yup’iks, everything has a spirit,” said Bergen. “There’s a lot of symbolism in their artwork, whether it’s stone tools, oil lamps, etc.”
Bergen is hoping, through his book, others will gain an understanding and appreciation for the Yup’ik people.
Bergen will have copies of the books for sale at the Crystal Compass, a Presque Isle bookstore located on Main St. The author will be at the store on Saturday, Sept. 20, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. to personalize books.
“I’ve already signed the books; on Sept. 20 I’ll be at Crystal Compass to meet customers and add personal greetings to each copy,” said Bergen.
Bergen will also be in Kennebunk at the Kennebunk Book Port on Sept. 6 from 1-3 p.m. for a book signing.
“We’re looking forward to making his books available to our customers,” said Lynn Cote, co-owner of Crystal Compass.
“I’m looking forward to sharing my story and that of the Yup’iks with others. I enjoyed my time in Alaska and hope others will gain an appreciation for the region like I did.”
