The Native Alaskan Survival Story That Revealed How Indigenous Knowledge Helped Humans Adapt To One Of Earth’s Harshest Environments

Not as the person on whom the expedition’s survival would ultimately depend.

She boarded the ship.

Arrival — And The First Winter

The Silver Wave reached Wrangel Island on September 16, 1921.

The five people — Crawford, Knight, Maurer, Galle, and Ada — along with the ship’s cat, a female tabby named Victoria whom they called Vic, landed on the southern coast and began to establish camp.

The first weeks were difficult adjustments, but manageable.

Stefansson had sent them with roughly six months of supplies, which was either optimistic or reckless depending on your assessment of the plan.