Herbie Nayokpuk facts for kids
Herbie Nayokpuk (born June 12, 1929 – died December 2, 2006) was a famous Inupiaq dog sled racer, also known as a musher. His Iñupiaq name was Niiqpaq. People often called him the "Shishmaref Cannonball" because he was from Shishmaref, Alaska. Herbie was known for being cheerful and honest. Many people say he was one of the most admired and liked mushers in the history of the Iditarod.
| Year | Position | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 5th | 21d 11h 0m 19s |
| 1974 | 3rd | 21d 18h 28m 42s |
| 1975 | 4th | 14d 20h 29m 7s |
| 1979 | Scratched | |
| 1980 | 2nd | 14d 20h 32m 12s |
| 1981 | 7th | 12d 22h 17m 45s |
| 1982 | 7th | 16d 14h 8m 21s |
| 1983 | 4th | 12d 22h 4m 28s |
| 1985 | 8th | 18d 17h 20m 0s |
| 1987 | 25th | 13d 10h 27m 47s |
| 1988 | 6th | 13d 3h 26m 44s |
Life as an Iditarod Musher
Herbie Nayokpuk was born in Shishmaref in 1929. He was one of the very first mushers to race in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race when it began in 1973. This famous race covers over 1,000 miles across Alaska.
Herbie competed in the Iditarod 11 times. He never won the top prize, but he was known for his amazing courage. He often made daring attempts even in very bad weather. He also showed incredible strength by competing after facing health challenges.
In 1981, Herbie had the honor of representing Alaska. He attended the presidential inauguration of Ronald Reagan. This showed how respected he was in his home state. Besides mushing, Herbie was also a talented Inupiaq artist.
Herbie's Legacy
Herbie Nayokpuk passed away at age 77 on December 2, 2006. He died at the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage, Alaska. He is buried in his hometown of Shishmaref.
Since 2007, a special award has been given out each year at the Iditarod. It is called the "Herbie Nayokpuk Memorial Award." This award goes to the musher who best shows Herbie's spirit of dog mushing. It honors his determination, kindness, and love for the sport.
