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Welcome
to our website!
This is the personal site of
a unique family living at the
edge of the Arctic Ocean in
northern Alaska...
Jim and Teena Helmericks
and their children.
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Family in 1992
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Jim and Teena
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*ALERT* added
in 2010: This website was originally built in the mid-1990's, so much of
what is described herewith is historical information. As you will see
as you read or browse the site, there have been many interesting updates
added along the way, but keep in mind that Jim and Teena have been the only
permanent residents of Colville Village for a number of years now, plus they
are virtually retired from most of the business ventures described in this
website. The guiding and tour businesses, Golden Plover Air taxi service,
and our commercial fishing no longer operate. The lodge is only open
now to a very limited clientele.
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Jim and Teena
live on an island at the mouth of the Colville River Delta, on the northern
coast of Alaska. The family homesite is called Colville Village and sits about
160 miles southeast of Barrow, the northern most point of the United States,
and 200 miles west of the Alaska/Canadian border. (See Maps
page).
Although
growing up in different areas on the North Slope of Alaska, Jim and Teena
have known each other since childhood, and life in the Arctic has been as
natural as breathing for them both. Marriage in 1970 found them home-making
on the edge of the Arctic Ocean, far from any other settlements --- true
"bush" living, as Alaskans like to call it. (See the History
page for further
background.)
Jim and Teena
have four sons, Derek, Jay, Isaac, and Aaron, who were raised and home-schooled
at Colville Village, and are third generation residents of this unique site.
(See the Our Kids page.) The boys grew up learning to appreciate and respect the
land that provides for us and to contribute to the family guiding, fishing,
and bush flying businesses. (See Our Work )
The land sustains
us! The surrounding countryside provides the basis for our livelihood and
survival. Our guiding, fishing, and flying businesses exist because of our
ability to access the wealth of our environment. Much of our food comes from
the land, such as the fish, caribou or muskoxen meat we depend upon. The
hunting and gathering lifestyle is our way of life, and we love our life on
the edge of the Arctic Ocean!
If you're
interested in reading annual family newsletters from past years, visit our
Newsletters page.
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Boys home at the Colville with Mom and Dad - August 2002. (Jay not in photo)
Isaac, Jim & Teena, Aaron, Derek
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News Alerts:
** January, 2012
Many new
updates have been added to the "Our Kids" page.
Check it out.
** December, 2011
New newsletter,
Colville Update 2011, is now available on "Newsletters"
page.
** November 24, 2011
New family
member born to Isaac and Crystal on Thanksgiving Day - a most wonderful gift
from God for which we are so thankful.
Danian just 6 hours old.
HI EVERYONE
My
sister Rhianna loves me.
** May 22, 2010
New newsletter,
Colville Update 2010, is now available on "Newsletters"
page.
** January, 2010
Sad News.
The Helmericks family just experienced a great loss when Bud Helmericks
passed away on January 27, 2010, just 9 days after reaching his 93rd birthday.
Below is a link to his obituary posted in Alaska magazine and many
other publications. Click on the following link: Bud Helmericks
Obituary
Above is
a picture of Bud and Martha taken in 1970 at Jay and Amy's wedding.
** May 15, 2009
New newsletter,
Colville Update 2009, is now available on "Newsletters"
page.
** February 14, 2009
Jim finally
got a website started where you can view many of his terrific photographs.
It's called Golden Plover Photography, and he
is adding more pictures all the time to expand the collection. Various
sized prints plus other photo items may be purchased there. Click
on the name above or put this address in your browser: "http://speikiei.zenfolio.com"
to access the site.
Jim
also has a new birding and nature blog that you may find interesting.
Arctic Smoke Signals can
be accessed at http://kingeider.blogspot.com, or click on above name.
** November 16, 2008
Isaac and
Crystal presented the family with a new member late evening on November 16th.
Rhianna Belle weighed in at 6 lbs. 10 oz, and was 20 inches long.
See details on the "Our Kids" page.
** June 1, 2008
New newsletter,
Colville Update 2008, now available on "Newsletters"
page.
** August 12, 2007
Aaron married
Autumn Botts in a beautiful outdoor ceremony held just outside Anchorage,
Alaska on August 12, 2007.
More pictures to follow soon.
** June 9, 2007
New newsletter,
Colville Update 2007, now available on "Newsletters"
page.
** February 10, 2007
New content
added to the "Our Kids" page.
** May 10, 2006
Elisha
Peace has arrived! Born May 7, 2006, weighing 8 lbs. 14 oz, and 21.5
inches long. See details on the "Our Kids" page.
** April 22, 2006
New newsletter, Colville Update 2006, now available
on "Newsletters" page.
** May, 2005
New newsletter, Colville Update 2005, now available
on "Newsletters" page.
** August, 2004
The
entire Jim and Teena Helmericks family converged at Colville Village the
second week of August for a grand get-together. Grandparents Jim and
Teena especially delighted in meeting their newest member of the clan for
the first time, Melody Hope. Below is a picture taken by the edge of
our lake on a balmy Arctic August day.
Derek, Beth,Crystal, Isaac, Amy, Jay,
Melody, Natasha,Teena, Aaron, Jim
** July, 2004
Melody
Hope joined the Helmericks family on
June 28th. See details on the "Our
Kids" page.
** May, 2004
New newsletter, Colville Update 2004, now available
on "Newsletters" page.
** January, 2003
Natasha
Joy joined the Helmericks family on January 11th. See details on the
"Our Kids" page.
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Additional information and photos will be added to this website as time
goes on, so check the current update to see if more has been added since
your last visit:
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Last Update - January 28, 2012
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