Our Lady of Karluk

Oil on panel, 30” x 30”, Private Collection

The village of Karluk is on the Karluk River, once the site of the world’s most abundant red salmon run. After the USA “purchased” Alaska from Russia in 1867, Karluk became the location of fish processing plants and canneries. Many of my female relatives worked in the canneries, some to fund their college educations. The painting honors those women and the sacred salmon of my ancestors.