Ada Blackjack was a young Inuit woman who became an unlikely hero in the early 20th century. Her story has been the subject of much speculation and fascination, but is Ada Blackjack a real story? Let’s take a closer look at the facts and separate truth from fiction.
First, some background: Ada Blackjack was born in Alaska in 1898. She grew up in poverty and struggled to make ends meet, especially after her husband died of tuberculosis. In 1921, she was recruited by explorer Vilhjalmur Stefansson to join an expedition to Wrangel Island, a remote spot in the Arctic Ocean.
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Stefansson’s goal was to establish a base on Wrangel Island and conduct research on the area’s wildlife and geography. To do so, he assembled a team of four men (including himself) and Ada Blackjack, who was hired as a seamstress and cook.
The expedition set off from Nome, Alaska in September 1921. However, things quickly went wrong.
The group encountered rough seas and had trouble navigating through ice floes. They eventually reached Wrangel Island in October, but by that point they were low on supplies and morale was low.
Despite these setbacks, Stefansson decided to leave three of his men behind on Wrangel Island while he and one other man went back to Alaska for more supplies. Ada Blackjack volunteered to stay with the three men – E.L. ‘Lorne’ Knight, Milton Galle, and Fred Maurer – until Stefansson returned.
This decision would prove fateful for all involved. Stefansson never returned to Wrangel Island; he got caught up in other projects and eventually abandoned his original plan altogether. Meanwhile, the four people left behind on Wrangel Island struggled to survive.
They had very little food or equipment – just a few guns and some basic camping gear – and had to contend with harsh Arctic conditions. The men tried hunting for food, but were largely unsuccessful. They also built a shelter out of driftwood and canvas, but it was not sturdy enough to withstand the constant winds and snow.
As time went on, the situation became increasingly dire. Knight fell ill with scurvy and was unable to move or care for himself.
Galle and Maurer tried to care for him, but they themselves were weakened by hunger and exposure. Ada Blackjack became the sole caretaker for all three men, using her hunting and sewing skills to keep them alive.
For months, Ada Blackjack kept a diary chronicling her experiences. She wrote about the difficulties of living in such extreme conditions, as well as her fears and hopes for the future. Her diary entries reveal a woman who was resourceful, brave, and determined to survive.
In August 1923 – nearly two years after they first arrived on Wrangel Island – a rescue mission finally arrived. By that point, Knight had died from his illness and Galle and Maurer were barely alive. Ada Blackjack was the only one of the four who had managed to stay relatively healthy.
News of Ada’s survival quickly spread around the world. She became something of a celebrity, with newspapers reporting on her heroism in surviving alone in the Arctic wilderness for so long.
So is Ada Blackjack’s story real? The answer is yes – there are plenty of historical records that confirm her existence and her role in the Wrangel Island expedition. Her diary has been preserved and published, providing firsthand accounts of what happened during those two long years.
However, there are also some myths surrounding Ada Blackjack that have been perpetuated over time. One popular legend is that she killed a polar bear with her bare hands in order to save herself and her companions from starvation. While it’s true that she did hunt polar bears (as well as foxes, ducks, and other Arctic animals), there’s no evidence that she ever killed one without the use of a weapon.
Another myth is that Ada Blackjack was a completely inexperienced and unprepared participant in the Wrangel Island expedition. While it’s true that she was hired primarily as a seamstress and cook, she did have some survival skills and knowledge of hunting and fishing. In fact, some historians argue that she was better equipped to survive in the Arctic than some of the men on the expedition.
In conclusion, Ada Blackjack’s story is real – but like any historical event, it has been subject to some embellishment and exaggeration over time. Nevertheless, her bravery and resilience in the face of extreme adversity are undeniable. Her story serves as a reminder of the power of human survival instincts and the importance of recognizing the contributions of marginalized individuals like indigenous women.
