Lannan Literary Awards
4 appearances
Richard K. Nelson
リチャード・K・ネルソン
Richard K. Nelson
Aliases:
Nels
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1941-12-01 （Madison, Wisconsin, United States）
- Died
- 2019-11-04 （San Francisco, United States） age 77
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Madison, Wisconsin (birth) → Chalkyitsik, Alaska (residence/study) → Sitka, Alaska (long-term residence) → Huslia, Alaska (extended stays) → San Francisco, California (late life)
Career
- Occupations
- Writer, Cultural anthropologist, Radio host, Activist
- Active Years
- 1964-2019
- Affiliations
- Sitka Conservation Society, National Park Service (employment)
- Memberships
- Sitka Conservation Society, Alaska Conservation Foundation (associated)
- Influenced By
- Catherine Attla and other village elders, Gwich'in and Athabaskan lifeways
- Influenced
- Composer John Luther Adams and other artists, Alaskan conservationists and writers of nature literature
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin–Madison | — | Anthropology | Bachelor's | — | United States |
| University of Wisconsin–Madison | — | Anthropology | Master's | — | United States |
| University of California, Santa Barbara | — | Cultural anthropology | Ph.D. | — | United States |
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Anthropology
Degree:
Bachelor's
Country:
United States
Completed bachelor's degree (year not specified); later obtained a master's degree at the same university.
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Anthropology
Degree:
Master's
Country:
United States
Master's degree (year not specified)
University of California, Santa Barbara
Cultural anthropology
Degree:
Ph.D.
Year of Graduation:
1972
Country:
United States
Earned Ph.D. in cultural anthropology in 1972.
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | John Burroughs Medal | The Island Within | — | John Burroughs Association | 受賞 |
| — | Lannan Literary Award | — | — | Lannan Foundation | 受賞 |
| — | Rasmuson Foundation's Distinguished Artist Award | — | — | Rasmuson Foundation | 受賞 |
| 1999 | Alaska State Writer Laureate | — | — | State of Alaska | 任命（1999–2001） |
| 2006 | Alaska Conservation Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award | — | — | Alaska Conservation Foundation | 受賞 |
John Burroughs Medal
1991
Work:
The Island Within
Organization:
John Burroughs Association
Result:
受賞
Lannan Literary Award
Organization:
Lannan Foundation
Result:
受賞
Rasmuson Foundation's Distinguished Artist Award
Organization:
Rasmuson Foundation
Result:
受賞
Alaska State Writer Laureate
1999
Organization:
State of Alaska
Result:
任命（1999–2001）
Alaska Conservation Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award
2006
Organization:
Alaska Conservation Foundation
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Hunters of the Northern Ice
1969 Non-fiction, EthnographyAn ethnographic account of coastal northern hunters and their lifeways in Alaska.
Hunting culturesHuman–nature relationships
Hunters of the Northern Forests
1973 Non-fiction, EthnographyA record of inland Alaskan forest hunters, their seasonal activities and relationship to place.
SeasonalityTraditional knowledge
Shadow of the Hunter: Stories of Eskimo Life
1980 Non-fiction, Short narrativesA collection of short narratives and descriptions about Eskimo (Alaska Native) life.
Local culturePersonal narratives
Make Prayers to the Raven: A Koyukon View of the Northern Forest
1983 Ethnography, Natural history essayA Koyukon perspective on the northern forest, blending ethnography and natural history with a more literary style.
Spiritual worldviewCoexistence of nature and cultureSymbolism of the raven
Adaptations
- [Television] Make Prayers to the Raven (five-part PBS series)
The Island Within
1989 Natural history, EssayInterweaves history, nature and human stories centered on an island in the Pacific Northwest.
Island historyNatural observationLocal history
Heart and Blood: Living with Deer in America
1997 Natural history, EssayAn exploration of the relationships between deer and people in America from historical and cultural perspectives.
Animals and civilizationHuman–animal relationships
Patriotism and the American Land (co-authored)
1997 Essays, Cultural commentaryAn essay addressing land and patriotism; part of a co-authored series with Barry Lopez and Terry Tempest Williams.
PatriotismLand ethics
Bibliography
- Hunters of the Northern Ice
- Hunters of the Northern Forests
- Shadow of the Hunter: Stories of Eskimo Life
- Make Prayers to the Raven: A Koyukon View of the Northern Forest
- The Island Within
- Heart and Blood: Living with Deer in America
- Patriotism and the American Land (co-authored)
Adaptations
- Make Prayers to the Raven — five-part PBS television series (based on the book)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Blend of ethnographic description and literary essayNature-observation-based narrationQuiet, lyrical prose
- Recurring Motifs
- RavenEncounters with animalsSeasons and landscapesIndigenous knowledge
Health
-
cancer長年Long-term battle with cancer; complications contributed to his death in 2019.
Legacy
Recognized for bridging ethnography and nature writing grounded in deep knowledge of Alaskan native cultures and the northern environment. Noted for long-term contributions to regional conservation and influence in nature-writing.
In Popular Culture
- John Luther Adams composition titled after Make Prayers to the Raven
- Five-part PBS television series based on Make Prayers to the Raven
Quotes
-
Nelson reportedly died listening to the recorded sound of a raven's call.
Source: Sitka Sentinel / obituaries (2019)
Trivia
- Nickname: "Nels".
- Hosted the radio program "Encounters" for over ten years.
- Served on the board of the Sitka Conservation Society for forty years.
- Reportedly died while listening to a recording of a raven's call.