In October 2026, Tummassak of Shishmaref and Edward Angalook of Unalakleet were brought home more than a century after they died while attending the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania. They were among 12 students included in the 2026 repatriation effort. The U.S. Army’s Carlisle Barracks disinterment project began in 2017 at the request of students’ families and Tribes.
At approximately age 12, Tummassak was taken from Alaska aboard the U.S. Revenue Cutter Bear with six other Alaska Native youth. She arrived at Carlisle on Nov. 14, 1897, and died of tuberculosis on April 8, 1900, at age 15. Carlisle records also spell her name “Tomiclock,” while her gravestone reads “Tomicock.”
Angalook was raised by renowned Unalakleet reindeer herder Sinrock Mary. He was one of four students who traveled from Golovnin Bay and arrived at Carlisle on Nov. 23, 1903. He died of tuberculosis on Sept. 24, 1905, at age 20. His gravestone spells his name “Angelook.”
Nyché Skavaq Sivulliuqti Andrew, a BSNC descendant and 2022 Young Provider Award recipient, is part of the Alaska Native Heritage Center’s Research Team, which was contacted by the U.S. Army Office of Army Cemeteries to help identify the students’ families and home communities. As part of this collaborative Bringing Tummassak and Edward Angalook HomeHISTORICAL SPOTLIGHTBSNC’s research effort, a photograph of Tummassak’s chin tattoo helped the team recognize a connection to Andrew’s family: her great-great-grandmother, Mary Agugaq Avessuk of Shishmaref, wore a similar tattoo.
A Celebration of Life for Edward was held Thursday, Oct. 1, at the Covenant Church in Unalakleet. On Oct. 4, Tummassak’s family and community gathered at the Shishmaref Lutheran Church to honor her. BSNC thanks Andrew, the Alaska Native Heritage Center, the families and communities, and everyone who helped bring Tummassak and Edward Angalook home and honor their lives.
Sources:
- Charles Fox, “‘Patient, gentle and brave’: An unexpected clue leads to family for an Alaska Native student who died at the Carlisle school,” ICT, Sept. 28, 2026.
- U.S. Army Office of Army Cemeteries, “Carlisle Barracks Main Post Cemetery.”