“I was born and raised here, my mother passed away after I was born and my biological dad adopted me out. I go by Frances because there were three of us Emma’s in town when I was growing up. I work at the laundry mat, it gets me along with my phone bill and water bill.
I got married to an abusive man in 1974, I left him in 1990 because he almost killed me. 12 years ago, I started going together with a very nice man, very kind. But last year I couldn’t stand him any more, with his habit, smoking pot, I haven’t touched that stuff or drinking in 13 years. I keep telling him to quit, but he wouldn’t listen, I guess it’s just a habit. Now I live in my little house with my grandson and daughter.”—Emma Frances is Yupik from Quinhagak, Alaska.
