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By MARIANNE UNGER
Adjunct Professor of Sociology
Carthage College

At Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin, students in my Adult Education class "Alaskan Settlers" find themselves especially fortunate to have access to "THE SPILL: Personal Stories from the Exxon Valdez Disaster," which was produced by the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council.

This book opens the doorway to understanding the impact of the Exxon Valdez disaster of 1989, which many of my students recall. By inviting students into the lives and concerns of people who live about the area of Prince William Sound, this book creates awareness in students of what the people really went through, as livelihoods and life changed overnight.

This book demonstrates that, while people may suffer trials and tribulations, their spirit can pull them together. THE SPILL tells stories of courageous people, of hardship and hope, with hope triumphing in the end.

I ask my students to write reflections on six persons whose experience of the Exxon Valdez disaster appear in the book: two professionals such as journalists, sociologists, or civic leaders; two Alaska Natives, and two individuals whose narratives appeal to them in a special way. Before the class ends, they share who they chose to write about. This way, we get a good cross-section of people and their personal experiences.

While reading THE SPILL, students watch Dr. Riki Ott's film, "Black Wave." People of the Sound who appear in the film also share their experiences more pointedly in THE SPILL. This book really puts the face of reality on the whole event. Doing the reading and the watching at the same time shows how a community that relies on the connections among its members and on its threatened renewable resources pulls together in order to survive.

Patience Andersen Faulkner has been our teleconference speaker. Students anticipate this event, preparing questions that they want to ask her. The questions can be about Alaska Native life or about one of the multiple facets of the Exxon Valdez disaster. The students enjoy talking with Patience and truly appreciate her knowledge; I do too.

Patience recommended, in the spirit of "potlatch", that THE SPILL be recycled. So when the class is done, each student writes a short reflection in his or her copy of the book. I collect the books at our potlatch and pass them on to the next group of students.

Potlatching has become a sort of closing event at final sessions of this class. I take care to make certain that students understand that this event is this to honor the Alaska Native heritage. We smudge with white sage, we have a fire, and students bring Alaskan Native foods, which include pilot bread, berries, nuts, venison jerky, and smoked salmon roll.

Nature permitting, this event occurs outdoors on the shores of Lake Michigan. I usually read names from an honor roll—people who helped with the oil spill, and significant persons who contribute to advancing respect and honor for Alaska Native culture.

We light candles in a talking circle fashion and each student reads a paragraph of his or her own, often relating to the Exxon Valdez spill. Patience gives us her time (and sometimes hand-made goodies, too) and each class fashions something to send her.

So I continue to learn with my students and we enjoy a pleasant, reciprocal relationship with Cordova, Valdez, and all of Prince William Sound.