Send Agra Apassingok to the Emmys for ONE WITH THE WHALE

Hello - My name is Agra Apassingok. I am St. Lawrence Yupik, from the community of Sivuqaq (Gambell) on St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. My family and I collaborated with filmmakers Peter Chelkowski and Jim Wickens to make a film called One With The Whale: An Indigenous Story of Resistance. It tells the story of how I at the age of 16, following 100 generations of my ancestors, successfully (and legally) hunted a bowhead whale. However, this vital act of feeding my community was twisted by environmentalists and keyboard activists into something very ugly. I was brutally attacked online. It was a terrible time for me and my family.

One With the Whale shows how my family and the community of Sivuqaq supported me through these dark times. I received powerful messages of encouragement on social media from many people, and 1000’s of Indigenous Alaskans who also continue to fight for their own cultural self-determination.

We live our Indigenous values every day in Gambell. One with the Whale is a story of our resistance, and we want to share the message LOUDLY! This story is being noticed beyond Alaska.

One With the Whale just won a Peabody Award and has also been nominated for an Emmy award, for Outstanding Social Issue Documentary. The Emmy award ceremony is in New York City on June 26th, 2025.

It is 3,955 miles and 4 flights from St. Lawrence Island to New York City. Our goal is to raise money for my brother Puwiima and I to travel to the Emmy awards and represent our story, our family and our community of Sivuqaq on that stage. My sister Nalu Apassingok went to the Peabody Awards and sang a Yupik song written by my grandfather – Anders Apassingok - in front of 1000s. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twNCl4nV-Pg

My goal is to do the same.

We need to raise $9,000 to cover the costs of flights, hotels and food for my brother and I. We humbly ask for your support. Please donate and spread the word as you are able. Thank you!

TRAILER: ONE WITH THE WHALE

[Nalu Danielle Apassingok is a main character in OWTW and one of the film's producers. S. BurnSilver is an Apassingok family friend and professor at Arizona State University - helping to organize this fundraiser!]