Talk:The Bush (Alaska)

Untitled
Not properly called "Alaskan" which refers to the people of Alaska but "Alaska" and thus "the Alaska Bush".
 * Alaska bush is slightly more popular on Google - 12,000 for Alaska Bush, 9,000 for Alaskan Bush. Probably no need to move. Rmhermen 18:59, Dec 16, 2004 (UTC)
 * For what it's worth, when I lived in Alaska a year and a half ago, I never heard either of those. We just call it "the Bush". Kairos 09:25, 22 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Think we should move this page to "The Bush"? As I said above, I've never once heard it called the "Alaskan Bush" or "Alaska Bush". Kairos 09:37, 22 Mar 2005 (UTC)


 * When you're in Alaska and you refer to 'the bush,' people know you are talking about rural Alaska. If you're in the lower 48 and expect people to know you are refering to Alaska when you use the term 'the bush,' you might as well give up.
 * Let them know it's Bush Alaska. Knowmoore

The most appropriate term would be "Bush Alaska" which is commonly heard across the state (from a life-long Alaskan). As the top comment rightly points out "Alaskan" is not properly an adjective but a personal pronoun (from the AP Style guide), thus Alaskan Bush is not correct by any means -- you don't hear it used and its use is gramtically incorrect. The unfortunate side-problem here is that using the term "Alaskan Bush" seems to refer to something that might be considered slightly obscene and makes me think less of Bush Alaska (rural communities) but the Great Alaskan Bush Company (famous Anchorage stip-joint).


 * I endorse the idea of moving to "Bush Alaska". Unschool 22:01, 2 January 2006 (UTC)
 * Another lifelong Alaskan here agreeing that "Bush Alaska," is the better term. "The Bush" is rarely used. --Damonius (talk) 19:19, 30 September 2008 (UTC)

Done. Knowmoore 05:52, 26 January 2006 (UTC)

Bush Alaska and alcohol
I left Alaska 21 years ago, so maybe I'm out of the loop here, but I never had any problem finding alcohol in Dutch, and while I never bought any in Dillingham, other guys always had it. If these towns are dry, I'd like a documenting link. Unschool 22:02, 2 January 2006 (UTC)


 * While 21 years ago there were not too many communities taking advantage of the option, since 1979 communities have had the ability to control the importation, sale, and distribution of alcohol within their boundaries under Alaska Statue 04.11.491. There are three terms generally used when referring to a communities' alcohol status: Dry meaning no alcohol, Damp referring to some form of alcohol control although generally still legal, or Wet meaning no alcohol control.  Currently, both Dutch Harbor and Dillingham are wet.  See, , , & . &mdash;akghetto talk 19:34, 3 January 2006 (UTC)
 * Thanks for the info (could never imagine Dutch being dry). Unschool 07:22, 3 January 2006 (UTC)

let's clean this page up!
I could use some help cleaning up the Bush Alaska page. Most of the info there now is based on my own personal experience living in Tuntutuliak and teaching there for two years. I just don't have the time now to find appropriate citations. Bush Alaska is too awesome to ignore. (and come to think of it, "Bush Alaska" doesn't sound quite right... and neither does Alaska Bush. Maybe it's just one of many ineffable aspects of the Great Alaskan Mystique. Help me out here... please. Knowmoore 17:17, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

"your point on Alaska Native Languages is wrong, sorry, the primary language is English, while Yupik and Inupiaq are still fairly wide spread, they are dying."

Actually, Yupik is the primary language in Tuntutuliak and every other bush village of the Lower Kuskokwm Delta. Obviously, you have not spent any time living and teaching in any of the villages in that region. I taught there from 2004-2006. Yupik, before English, is the primary language of the entire region for all activities outside of public education, including all business, local government, and daily living-- except perhaps in Bethel. Any language scholar familiar with Alaska Native Languages can confirm this. The Alaska Native Language Center website and The University of Alaska department of Alaska Studies has prof of this. 68.82.201.254 (talk) 07:50, 24 December 2007 (UTC)

All of this was accurate before someone changed it:
The following description is of one village in particular, but the isolation of any Bush Village be characterized by at least part of the following:

* no roads or cars, but boardwalks for 4-wheelers and paths for snow machines. * no sewage treatment or water piped into homes, rather the use of a honey bucket and the collection of rainwater for drinking. * no bathrooms with showers or hot running water; steam baths are used exclusively for bathing. * no restaurants or prepared foods available for sale, except for a few tiny village stores with odd hours. * most of the food eaten in the village is caught near the village by those living in the village. (some very interesting foods are enjoyed, such as fermented fish and "stink heads") * delivery if US Mail is regularly delayed; sometimes for more than a week at a time. * restrictions on alcohol ("dry," illegal to consume and posses) * the exception to these is at the school, where lunch, hot water and a flush toilet can be found. There is also a "washateria" building where clothes can be washed and a shower can be taken for cost. * a tiny unpaved runway with frequently unflyible conditions

Maps, perhaps?
I, for one, would greatly appreciate were there maps to show the approximate locality and extent of the Bush. I understand, for it was stated in the artice, that due to the geographical nature of the definition of the Bush, i.e. it is concidered to be of different extent form place to place, it will be a hard job to associate conclusive "borders" to it, but I don't think that should stop us from trying.

As they say, seeing is believing. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.133.149.150 (talk) 15:23, 29 March 2008 (UTC)

Stink heads?
What are stink heads? --AW (talk) 03:20, 27 August 2008 (UTC)


 * Stink heads are a traditional way of preparing Salmon heads to eat. This dish is popular with Yupik and Inupiaq elders, but is losing popularity with the younger generation because of its strong smell and flavors that do not match well with the Western flavor palate.  Stink heads are prepared by burying about a dozen salmon heads in the ground. The heads age for weeks and eventually ferment.  Not sure if they actually create an alcohol, but they create a similar desired effect. --Damonius (talk) 19:21, 30 September 2008 (UTC)

Alaska Railroad
Does the Alaska Railroad run into the Bush at all? I notice that several parts of the Fairbanks-Anchorage line don't touch a highway, and the railroad itself does have a flag-stop line or something. 204.52.215.14 (talk) 03:57, 1 September 2008 (UTC)


 * No. The Alaska Railroad only runs from the Kenai Peninsula to Fairbanks, it's northernmost point. There are no railroads or highways which connect those areas with rest of Alaska, although there maybe few ice roads during the winter --Bobz99701 (talk) 02:37, 3 November 2022 (UTC)