Tucked into the southern side of Unangam Tanangim (the Aleutian Islands), three hundred and thirty-eight miles away from St. Paul, King Cove, or Agdaaĝux̂ in Unangam Tunuu, rests in the middle of a narrow and windy corridor that makes air travel to and from nothing short of unforgettable.

Among the many musical styles celebrated across our Islands, the playful meter of polka has captured King Cove’s center stage for decades. Assisted by the Mack family’s finesse with instruments like the accordion, guitar, piano, fiddle, and even the spoons, King Cove’s polka parties are renowned throughout, and even beyond, Unangam Tanangim.

Born to Paul Mack and Fanny Ferguson, the 18 Mack children grew up celebrating their skill with instruments, each of them gifted with an aptitude for merrymaking and the knack for connecting with folks far beyond their family circle.

Currently serving on Aleut’s Board of Directors, Colleen Dushkin (née Mack), daughter of Clyde “Barney” Mack, shared what it was like to grow up surrounded by the musical Mack siblings.

Coleen recalled memories of hearing her father playing the harmonica while his sisters Mattie and brother Richard played accordion, brothers Stanley and Glen joined on the keyboard, Bigshot on guitar, Dubbies on the saxophone, and so on, while sister Myrtle and the other Mack siblings and cousins danced, played cards, and laughed together.

The experiences Colleen grew up with weren’t just a backdrop to her childhood; they were the essence of coming together as a community for much of King Cove. “I can’t recall a time where we’ve gathered without playing music, and some of my first memories are of polka music,” Colleen shared.

“It was never even an option for us not to polka!”

Recalling her childhood, Colleen described how the family’s penchant for playing music created opportunities to connect with other community members, not just within King Cove itself, but beyond its borders.

Colleen explained, “all those polka parties were an opportunity to come together for good stories, laughing, food, and of course a live polka band, because that’s where all the Macks would be.”

Drawing in guests from up and down the chain, King Cove’s biggest annual polka party is dedicated to supporting the Eddie Mack, Sr. Memorial Scholarship Fund (EMSF). Established in memoriam of Edward R. Mack, Sr. (1923-1985), EMSF was created as a means for the community to honor Uncle Eddie Mack while raising funds for King Cove’s graduating high school seniors.

Throughout the years, the polka parties of King Cove have not only provided an avenue for celebration, they have also served as a platform for oral tradition. Amidst the sounds of raucous joy and laughter often heard at polka parties, you can also find folks both young and old sharing stories.

“It is a time to tell stories about when we were younger, a time to tell stories about living different ways of life than we do now, about fishing and walking miles to set up traps, about living in different places, and so on. These events give us a time to gather, a reason to gather. And we get to do that and support our community members.”

Despite the deep-rooted sense of community that polka music brings to King Cove, Colleen expressed concerns about its future. With fewer young musicians learning to play, the live polka tradition of King Cove faces an uncertain fate.

“Once all of the Aunties and Uncles are all gone, I don’t know where that will come from. It has been such a big part of our lives, and I know we all do our best to continue it but none of us play the accordion,” she paused before adding, “Yet!”

For Colleen, she feels a strong responsibility to continue hosting polka parties, tying them to important community causes and opportunities to celebrate others. By exposing younger generations to polka music and instilling a sense of pride in the community’s musical heritage, Colleen believes that we give the tradition an opportunity to thrive and endure.

For the Mack family and all those who celebrate the polka traditions both in and out of King Cove, polka music has become more than cherished rhythms; it has become a symbol of unity and a way to honor those who have passed by binding families, friends, and visitors together in a celebration of life and heritage.

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