Tikchik village: a nineteenth century riverine community in ... - Cluster

VANSTONE: TIKCHIK VILLAGE 331suit of this survey that between 1800 and 1860 there were four andpossibly six occupied settlements in the general vicinity of Tikchikincluding that village itself. There was Agivavik south of the presentcommunity of New Stuyahok, and Akulivikchuck and Kokwok justbelow the present village of Ekwok. Old Koliganek near the mouthof the Nuyakuk River was doubtless in existence, at least toward theend of this period, and there was a small settlement, the name ofwhich could not be learned, north of Tikchik at the mouth of theAllen River.Although no population figures exist for these villagesat this period, it seems likely on the basis of their present-day appearancethat the total population of the region between 1800 and 1860may have been between 300 and 500, figures that correspond roughlyto the data obtained by Vasiliev in 1829.1867-1900We have noted that the Alaska Commercial Company quicklyemerged as successor to the Russian -American Company at Nushagakand maintained a moderately flourishing trade with the peopleof the area throughout the period under consideration here. Althoughsome changes of policy may have taken place, it is likely that thebasic relationship between the Eskimos of Tikchik and the tradersdid not change. At various times during the decade between 1880and 1890 the Nushagak post may have maintained minor stationsat points on the Nushagak River, placed in such a manner as to moreeffectively control the trapping activities of the Eskimos. Each ofthese stations was under the direction of native traders who, at certainseasons of the year, brought the furs they had purchased toNushagak. One of the out stations appears to have been located atthe mouth of the Mulchatna River. It was in existence somewhatprior to 1896 and was called Middle Station (Jackson, 1886, p. 55;Report of the Governor of Alaska, 1891, pub. 1891, p. 25; Baker,1902, p. 284).Although there is no way of knowing for sure, the people of Tikchikmay have dealt with the trader at Middle Station in order tohave easier and more frequent access to trade goods. It is also possiblethat a trader from this or one of the other out stations along theNushagak River may have visited the settlement occasionally to obtainfurs. It is certain, however, that there was no trading activityin the area other than that under the control of the Alaska CommercialCompany until after the time when the Tikchik site hadbeen abandoned.