Mission of Change in Southwest Alaska—Conversations With Father Rene Astruc and Paul Dixon on Their Work With Yup'ik People, 1950-1988

Jesuit missionary Father RenAc Astruc came to southwest Alaska in 1950 and stayed for 40 years. Paul Dixon also arrived in Alaska in 1950; after working as an aviation inspector, he then devoted his time to helping the Catholic Church divest itself of its mission property at St. Mary's and put it in the hands of the local Yup'ik people. Conversations between these two men and editor Fienup-Riordan, a cultural anthropologist working in Alaska, began in 1996. The men reflect on economic, political, and cultural changes in the region, especially the impact of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 and President Johnson's War on Poverty. Their stories are placed in context by the editor's history of the region and her review of anthropological theory on cultural identity and cultural change. The book includes many b&w photos of local communities. Annotation Ac2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)