Photo by kiliiiyuyan / This newly built umiaq, or skinboat, belongs to Quuniq Crew, the youngest Indigenous whaling family in Utqiagvik. Whaling tradition is passed with intention to younger generations, as Iñupiat increasingly understand the importance of maintaining cultural identity through traditional practices over modern versions. This revitalization of culture is something I cherish in my Arctic excursions. “Everyone gets excited by the [modern] outboards, but as I’ve gotten older I prefer the [traditional] umiaq. It’s the patience [it needs], and it’s more challenging,” says captain Qallu Reich. My favorite spot on Earth is here, in the Alaskan Arctic. I know you have a place you love more than anything, and I encourage you to post images and tag them with #ShareYourSpot. Show us photos of your spot—from your kitchen window, a tent, or the top of a mountain peak. I’ll be curating submissions and featuring my favorites on natgeoyourshot. You can also follow me kiliiiyuyan for ...