Peter Kalifornsky (October 12, 1911 – June 5, 1993) was a writer and ethnographer of the Dena'ina

Athabaskan Athabaskan ( ; also spelled ''Athabascan'', ''Athapaskan'' or ''Athapascan'', and also known as Dene) is a large branch of the Na-Dene language family of North America, located in western North America in three areal language groups: Northern, ...

of Kenai,

Alaska Alaska ( ) is a non-contiguous U.S. state on the northwest extremity of North America. Part of the Western United States region, it is one of the two non-contiguous U.S. states, alongside Hawaii. Alaska is also considered to be the north ...

Early life, family and education

He was the great-grandson of Qadanalchen, who took the name Kalifornsky after working in the

Russian America Russian(s) may refer to: *Russians (), an ethnic group of the East Slavic peoples, primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries *A citizen of Russia *Russian language, the most widely spoken of the Slavic languages *''The Russians'', a b ...

n colony of

Fort Ross Fort Ross (, , Kashaya: ) is a former Russian establishment on the west coast of North America in what is now Sonoma County, California. Owned and operated by the Russian-American Company, it was the hub of the southernmost Russian settlemen ...

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

. ( Kalifornsky, Alaska was named for him.)

Career

Kalifornsky wrote traditional stories, poems, and language lessons in the Outer Inlet dialect (sometimes called the Kenai dialect) of Dena'ina, a language of the

language group. As a Dena'ina elder, Kalifornsky participated in creating the written version of the Dena'ina language. Over 19 years, he worked to record as many ''sukdu'' (traditional stories) as he could remember, translating them also into English. He also wrote original works in Dena'ina, including a number of autobiographical works. Near the end of his life, he worked with linguist

James Kari James Kari is an American linguist and Professor Emeritus with the Alaska Native Language Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) specializing in the Dene (a.k.a. Athabascan languages) of Alaska. He served on the faculty of UAF from 19 ...

of the

Alaska Native Language Center The Alaska Native Language Center, established in 1972 in Fairbanks, Alaska, is a research center focusing on the research and documentation of the Native languages of Alaska. It publishes grammars, dictionaries, folklore collections and research m ...

and anthropologist Alan Boraas of Kenai Peninsula College to compile his collected works. Published in 1991, ''A Dena'ina Legacy — K'tl'egh'i Sukdu: The Collected Writings of Peter Kalifornsky'' contains 147 bilingual Dena'ina-English writings.Kalifornsky, 1991. Throughout most of the volume, the original Dena'ina appears on the left-hand page and the English translation appears opposite, on the right page.

Works by Peter Kalifornsky

This bibliography is based upon "Kalifornskyana," the bibliography of Kalifornsky's works included in ''A Dena'ina Legacy.''Kalifornsky, 1991, pp. xxxii–xxxiv. However, the bibliography has been reordered and citations are rendered in a different citation style. As with the original bibliography, materials not included in ''A Dena'ina Legacy'' are marked with a cross † — here placed after the date. A double-cross ‡ is used for one item from which most but not all materials are included in ''A Dena'ina Legacy.''

Published works

Books

* 1977; revised 1981. ''Kahtnuht'ana Qenaga: The Kenai People's Language''. Ed. by James Kari. Fairbanks, AK:

University of Alaska Fairbanks The University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF or Alaska) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-, National Sea Grant College Program, sea-, and National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, space-grant research university in ...

, 140 pages. * 1984. ''K'tl'egh'i Sukdu: Remaining Stories''. Ed. by Jane McGary and James Kari. Fairbanks, AK: Alaska Native Language Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 124 pages. * 1991. ''A Dena'ina Legacy — K'tl'egh'i Sukdu: The Collected Writings of Peter Kalifornsky''. Ed. by James Kari and Alan Boraas. Fairbanks, Alaska: Alaska Native Language Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Shorter works

* 1974. ''K'eła Sukdu, The Mouse Story''. Fairbanks, AK: Alaska Native Language Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks. 7 pages. * 1974. ''Ch'enlahi Sukdu, The Gambling Story''. Fairbanks, AK: Alaska Native Language Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks. 11 pages. * 1975. "The Lord's Prayer." ''Orthodox Alaska'' 5:51. * 1975. "Qunshi Uquch'el'ani, Beluga Hunting." In

, ed., ''Dena'ina T'qit'ach': The Way the Tanaina Are''. Fairbanks, AK: Alaska Native Language Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, pp. 16–18. * 1976. ena'ina numbers. age numbers handwritten in Dena'ina by Peter Kalifornsky on each page. In Walt and Elsa Pederson, eds, ''A Small History of the Western Kenai''. Chicago: Adams Press. * 1977. "Low Bush Cranberry Story." In Priscilla Russell Kari, ''Dena'ina K'et'una, Tanaina Plantlore''. Anchorage: Adult Literacy Laboratory, p. 42. * 1980.‡ ''Five Legends of the Dena'ina People''. Told by Peter Kalifornsky, written and edited by June Lindgren Gagnon. Kenai, AK: Cook Inlet Native Association. 48 pages. ote: four of these stories are included in ''A Dena'ina Legacy;'' the fifth story, "The Spirit of the Bear," was not written in Dena'ina by Kalifornsky.* 1980. "A View of the Effects of Exploration on Alaska Natives." In Antoinette Shalkop, ed., ''Exploration in Alaska: Captain Cook Commemorative Lecture Series''. Anchorage, AK: Cook Inlet Historical Society, pp. 197–199. * 1981.† "The Potlatch Song of the Lonely Man," modified version. In Lance Petersen, ''The Ballad of Kenai'' lay * 1982. Translator (English to Dena'ina), ''Qezdceghnen Ggagga, The Kustatan Bear Story by Maxim Chickalusion''. Fairbanks, AK: Alaska Native Language Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks. 33 pages. * 1982. wo gambling songs. In James Kari, ed., ''Ch'enlahi, the Tep-Wi Hand Game of the Dena'ina''. Kenai, AK: Kenai Borough School District, pp. 18–19. * 1983. "Unhshcheyakda: My Great-Great-Grandfather." In James Kari, ''Kalifornsky, The Californian from Cook Inlet''. ''Alaska in Perspective'' 5(1): 8. * 1983. "The Potlatch Song of the Lonely Man." In Richard K. Nelson, ''The Athabaskans: People of the Boreal Forest''. Fairbanks, AK: University of Alaska Museum. * 1985. "The Mouse Story," "The Gambling Story," "Crow and the One-Side Human," "The Old Dena'ina Beliefs." '' Alaska Quarterly Review'' 4(3–4): 173–181. pecial issue on Alaska Native Writers, Storytellers, and Orators.* 1990. "Two Cook Inlet Dena'ina Narratives About Russians." In Richard Pierce, ed., ''Russia in North America, Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Russian-America''. Kingston, Ontario: The Limestone Press, pp. 36–40.

Unpublished works and manuscripts

* 1972. Notes on a 1972 Kenai potlatch. Unpublished manuscript, 4 pages. * 1974.† Notebook #1 riting practice Handwritten manuscript, 34 pages. * 1974.† Schoolbook translations for State Operated Schools. Handwritten manuscript, 7 pages. * 1974–1976.† Writings and lesson materials. Handwritten and typed manuscript, about 50 pages. * 1974–1991.† Correspondence. Dena'ina and English. About 50 pages. * 1974, 2004.† Kenai Dena'ina Key Words. Manuscript, 6 pages. * 1980.† A trip to California and New Mexico. Handwritten manuscript, 14 pages. * 1985–1987. Dena'ina stories in manuscript. Typescript, 56 pages. (Retyped copies of 66 published stories from 1977 and 1984; Dena'ina only, no English translations). * 1985–1987. New stories and texts. Typescript, 46 pages. 5 items mainly in Dena'ina, without English.

Posthumous Editions

Peter Kalifornsky and Katherine McNamara, ''From the First Beginning. When the Animals Were Talking / Ninya Hndadulghest: The Dena'ina Animal Stories of Peter Kalifornsky and Conversations with the Author.'' (Charlottesville, VA: Artist's Proof Editions, 2015). (Apple Books) Peter Kalifornsky and Katherine McNamara, ''Kel Ench'q Ghe'uyi Lachq'u Niltu / From the Believing Time, When they Tested for the Truth: The Dana'ina Belief Stories of Peter Kalifornsky''. (Charlottesville, VA: Artist's Proof Editions, 2019). (Apple Books)

Video

* 1984.† "Narrowing Down to One Best Path." Videotaped poetry reading by Peter Kalifornsky and

Gary Snyder Gary Snyder (born May 8, 1930) is an American poet, essayist, lecturer, and environmental activist. His early poetry has been associated with the Beat Generation and the San Francisco Renaissance and he has been described as the "poet laureate ...

, Kenai Peninsula College, April 9, 1984. ncludes Snyder's comments on Peter Kalifornsky and Peter Kalifornsky reading a selection of his writings in Dena'ina and English.

Interviews

* McNamara, Katherine. (1985).† "A Talk with Peter Kalifornsky: ''Sukdu Beq' Quht'ana Ch'ulani'', The Stories Are for Us to Learn Something From." ''Alaska Quarterly Review'' 4(3–4): 199–208. pecial issue on Alaska Native Writers, Storytellers, and Orators.* McClanahan, A. J., ed. (1986).† "Peter Kalifornsky, Kalifornsky Village (an interview)." In ''Our Stories, Our Lives''. Anchorage, AK: CIRI Foundation, pp. 23–32.

Footnotes

References

* ''

Anchorage Daily News The ''Anchorage Daily News'' is a daily newspaper published by the Binkley Co., and based in Anchorage, Alaska. It is the most widely read newspaper and news website (adn.com) in the state of Alaska. The newspaper is headquartered in Anchorage, ...

''. (1993-06-09). "Obituaries" (obituary of Peter Kalifornsky). ''

'', p. E3. * Boraas, Alan. (1975). "Report on the 1975 Excavations at the Kalifornsky Village Site, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska." Unpublished manuscript in author's files. * Boraas, Alan S. (1991). "Peter Kalifornsky: A Biography." In Kalifornsky, 1991, pp. 470–481. * Boraas, Alan S. (2004-12-25). "Find Renewal by Defining Your Purpose." Anchorage Daily News, p. B6. * Hulen, David. (1989-05-28). "Kenai Tribe is Invisible No Longer." ''

'', p. A1. * Hymes, Dell. (1991). "Foreword." In Kalifornsky, 1991, pp. xvi–xix. * Kalifornsky, Peter. (1991). ''A Dena'ina Legacy — K'tl'egh'i Sukdu: The Collected Writings of Peter Kalifornsky''. Ed. by James Kari and Alan Boraas. Fairbanks, AK: Alaska Native Language Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks. * Kari, James. (1975). "A Classification of Tanaina Dialects." ''Anthropological Papers of the University of Alaska'' 17(2): 49–53. * Kari, James. (1991a). "Writing at the Archaic Periphery." In Kalifornsky, 1991, pp. xxiii–xxx. * Kari, James. (1991b). "Introduction to the Kustatan Bear." In Kalifornsky, 1991, pp. 287–289. * Kari, James, and Alan Boraas. (1991). "Kalifornskyana" ibliography In Kalifornsky, 1991, pp. xxixii–xxxiv. * Kari, Priscilla Russell. (1995). ''Tanaina Plantlore, Dena'ina K'et'una'', 4th ed. Fairbanks, AK: Alaska Native Language Center, Alaska Natural History Association, and National Park Service. irst edition published 1977 by Adult Literary Laboratory, University of Alaska Anchorage.* Kizzia, Tom. (1991-10-14). "Last Testament 'A Dena'ina Legacy:' At 80, Peter Kalifornsky Gives a Collected Treasure of Alaska Language and Living." ''

'', p. A1. * Kizzia, Tom. (1991-12-16). "The Invisible People The Good Land: Competing Myths Shroud Arrival of Russian Traders." ''

'', p. A1. * Kizzia, Tom. (1991-12-19). "The Invisible People: In Kalifornsky Village Dena'ina Find a Measure of Past and Peace." ''

'', p. A1. * Kizzia, Tom. (1991-12-24). "Kenai Puts Time Capsule in Center." ''

'', p. B2. * Kizzia, Tom. (1993-06-07). "Kenaitze Elder, Storyteller Dies: Peter Kalifornsky Nursed Old Ways." ''

'', p. A1. * Kizzia, Tom. (1993-06-10). "Dena'ina Elder Buried in Once-Lost Cemetery." ''

'', p. A1. * Little, Jon. (1998-08-07). "Borough Might Return Village to Tribe." ''

'', p. B1. * Little, Jon. (2002-06-28). "Diggin' history — Kenaitze youths help archaeology students." ''

'', p. A1. * Loshbaugh, Doug. (2000-03-05)
"Digging the Past."
''Peninsula Clarion''. Retrieved on 2007-02-26. * McNamara, Katherine. (1985). "A Talk with Peter Kalifornsky: ''Sukdu beq' quht'ana ch'ulani'', The Stories Are for Us to Learn Something From." ''Alaska Quarterly Review'' 4(3–4): 179–208. pecial issue on Alaska Native Writers, Storytellers, and Orators.* O'Harra, Doug. (1999-09-05). "Scraping for Clues of a Dena'ina Past." ''We Alaskans'' (Sunday magazine of ''

''), p. G5. * Znamenski, Andrei A., trans. (2003). ''Through Orthodox Eyes: Russian Missionary Narratives of Travels to the Dena'ina and Ahtna, 1850s–1930s''. Rasmuson Library Historical Translation Series, vol. 13. Fairbanks, AK: University of Alaska Press. Includes a 72-page introduction by Znamenski. {{DEFAULTSORT:Kalifornsky, Peter 1911 births 1993 deaths 20th-century Alaska Native people 20th-century American writers Denaʼina people American ethnographers 20th-century Native American writers People from Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska Writers from Alaska Linguists of Na-Dene languages American Book Award winners 20th-century American male writers 20th-century American anthropologists