Suzanne hopes her girls will continue to be interested in learning about her culture. She says instances arise when she tries to expand their understanding of where she's from, who her relatives are, what they are like. "It's hard to do that when you're immersed in a bigger culture," she says. "We find ourselves being assimilated into the big city. It's almost like you don't have any control over it, so it takes a lot of work" to resist assimilation. "We're still really immersed, especially with a non-Native husband, doing more non-Native activities."

Suzanne tells her girls that if they want to learn about her culture (who she is and who they are as well), they can read, talk to people, and even take classes. They need to take the initiative. Though they don't have the exposure Suzanne wishes they had, there are ways.

Sharp family at the Fur Rendezvous Fair

During informal suppers at Suzanne's parents' house, the girls listen to Suzanne's stepfather tell stories about his experiences. They listen, enraptured. "It's important for the girls to hear unique experiences about living in that time and age," she says. Her stepfather has a sharp memory and recounts stories, about things such as hunting, with vivid details. He accurately remembers names and places, as is the Eskimo oral tradition. "It's interesting to listen to humorous stories while learning lessons about life in general," she says.