What Was the Condition of Ada Blackjack Family?

Ada Blackjack was a young Inuit woman who became famous for her survival story on Wrangel Island. She was born in 1898 in a small Inuit community in Alaska.

Ada’s life was not easy as her family struggled with poverty and illness. Her mother died when she was just two years old, leaving her father to raise her and her siblings.

Ada’s father was an alcoholic and often left the family for months at a time. This left Ada responsible for taking care of her siblings, which included hunting and fishing for food. She also had to drop out of school at a young age to help support the family.

As Ada grew older, she married and had three children. Unfortunately, all of her children died from tuberculosis before their first birthday. This tragedy devastated Ada, and she eventually separated from her husband.

With no job skills or education, Ada struggled to make ends meet. She worked odd jobs around town but could never earn enough money to support herself. As a result, she often went hungry and struggled with homelessness.

In 1921, Ada heard about an expedition to Wrangel Island led by Vilhjalmur Stefansson. The expedition was looking for new land to claim for Canada and needed four Inuit people to accompany them as cooks and seamstresses.

Ada saw this as an opportunity to earn money for herself and jumped at the chance to join the expedition. She was chosen along with three other Inuit people: Lorne Knight, Milton Galle, and Fred Maurer.

The expedition did not go as planned, and after two years on Wrangel Island, only Ada survived. The others either died or were forced to leave the island due to illness or injury.

Despite the tragic outcome of the expedition, Ada’s survival story became famous around the world. Her courage and resilience in the face of extreme adversity inspired many people.

In conclusion, Ada Blackjack’s family faced numerous challenges throughout her life. Poverty, illness, and the loss of her children all contributed to her struggles. However, Ada’s determination and resourcefulness helped her survive and become a symbol of strength for generations to come.