Sand Point, Alaska

Sand Point is located on the northwest coast of Popof Island. Popof Island is in the Shumagin Island group located south of the Alaska Peninsula, and is near the entrance to the Bering Sea. The island is 16 km (10 miles) long and 8 km (5 miles) wide. Sand Point can be reached by plane or boat. Its Aleut name is Qagun Tayagungin. There are three local tribes: Qagan Tayagungin Tribe of Sand Point, Unga Tribal Council, and Pauloff Harbor Tribe.

The village has a population of around 1200, about half of which are Aleut. Its first residents were Aleuts from nearby villages and Scandinavian fishermen. Sand Point has one of the largest commercial fishing fleets in the Aleutians. As well, a small herd (about 120 head) of bison roams freely on the uninhabited side of the Island. Traditional harvest includes fish, marine mammals, terrestrial mammals, marine invertebrates, birds, eggs, and edible plants.

Team Members

  • Laresa Syverson

    Community Research Assistant

    Laresa Syverson was raised in Unalaska and the International Port of Dutch Harbor and continues to live there today. Laresa is passionate about Unangan language revitalization and is actively involved with the Tribe of St. Paul and APIA to learn as much as she can. Laresa is also passionate about gathering and expressing traditional knowledge through Art, Story-telling, and Environmental Monitoring Programs such as the Aleut International Association (AIA) data collection program. Laresa advocates that Unangan people be involved in the process of gathering environmental data and traditional knowledge because it builds professional skills and provides an innovative way to learn about the food we receive from our environment and what changes or interactions are taking place. Laresa also learns traditional medicines and chocolate confection from her Mother and is a licensed Massage Therapy Practitioner. She aims to love the work she does and inspire others to love the work they do. Laresa has her Associates degree in Fine Art from IAIA (NM) and recently completed their Museum Studies Certificate program (Fall 2018).