♪ Molly of Denali
Let's go!
♪ She's Molly of Denali
[laughing]: Whooo!
♪ By plane or sled or snowshoe ♪
♪ She is ready to explore
♪ From Kaktovik down to Juneau ♪
♪ Always wanting to learn more ♪
Yeah!
♪ Together with her best friend Tooey ♪
♪ Always by her side And Trini!
♪ Discovering the outdoors
♪ On adventures day and night
♪ Come along with Molly
♪ Molly
♪ Through fields of fireweed
♪ Come along with Molly
♪ Molly
♪ From tundra to the sea
Mahsi'choo-- let's go!
♪ Molly of Denali
Yeah!
♪ She's Molly of Denali
♪ Come on ♪ Let's go!
♪ Molly of Denali
♪ She's Molly of Denali
MOLLY: "Steam Bath Ch'oondaii"
[Layla coughing]
[sighs]
[sniffles]
You are sick!
It, it's just a head cold.
I made you some dinjik tloo.
Aww! [coughs]
You made moose soup for me?
I, I should get a cold more often.
Mmm, it smells delicious.
[sniffs] Ha, I wouldn't know.
I brought a big pot.
Have some for lunch, if you want.
Yum! I'd love that!
Mahsi',Auntie Midge.[barks]
This is so thoughtful of you, Auntie Midge.
Your dinjik tloo is the best.
It always reminds me of my mom's.
It's good for you, too.
[clears throat] Hopefully it'll work
and I can get well in time for my pilot's medical exam.
I have to pass one every year to keep flying.
When is it?
Early next week.
I can't reschedule,
it took me months to get this appointment.
Well, let's hope this does the trick.
How's your mom?
I brought her some ayuq.
Quyana,Atsaq.
Grandpa Nat brought you some wool socks.
Connie dropped off some banana bread.
Mmm.
Mr. Patak brought you a...
wreath of garlic?
[chuckles]Nice.
I can get well
and be safe from vampires.[laughs]
[Molly humming]
WALTER: Ah, perfect.
Next up,
Qyah's famous sourdough hotcakes
coming right up.
Don't forget the Alaskan jak!
[Layla blowing nose][gasps]
Oops.
[quietly]: Hope I didn't wake Mom up.
[Layla coughs]
Sounds like she's up.
Oh, it's you!
I thought the geese were migrating early.[giggles]
Har, har.
Aw, honey, I'm sorry you haven't been able to
shake this cold yet.
Me too.
I don't know what I'm gonna do if I miss that exam.
So many people are depending on me
to fly in medical supplies, food,
and even the mail.
There's gotta be
something we haven't tried yet
that would help you get well.
When I was little... [sniffles]
my mom made a kiidhah zhee.
What's a kiidhah zhee?
It's a steam bath.
Is that a steaming bathtub?
No, it's more like a sauna.
[sniffs] A room so hot
it makes you sweat, relax.
It could even help you heal from a cold.
And for many Indigenous peoples,
there's also something spiritual about it.
It's hard to describe,
but I loved sitting in there with my mother,
and not just because it unstuffed my nose.
[sniffs]
Wow, Mom,
that sounds really special.
I wish we had a steam bath.
AUNTIE MIDGE: Then why don't you make one?
What?
It's as easy as pie.
And good ch'oondaii.
It's good medicine?
And it's easy?
Uh-huh, kiidhah zheeis good for
your mind, body, and spirit.
A steam bath might even help your mom
feel closer to her mother.
Nitsuu Catherine always took your mom
in the steam bath.
Wow.
You really think we could build one?
Sure, but you might need an extra set of hands.
Oscar, what do you say?
Everyone's counting on my mom to get better.
This may be our last shot.
Are you in?
Uh...
Great! Mahsi',Oscar!
Oscar?
Coming!
[gasps] Wait!
[chuckles]
I didn't get to tell them how to make one.
That's supposed to be easy?
I know it looks hard,
but Auntie Midge said anyone can do it.
Let's see what we need.
"Volcanic rocks--
"These can typically be found
at your local garden supply store."
But we don't have a local garden supply store,
unless you sell them at the Trading Post?
No... I know!
Grandpa Nat will know where to find 'em.
He's a volcanologist and knows all about volcanoes.
Great, let's go.
[gasps] Found one!
Hmm...
Yes, but that one is way too small.
It wouldn't hold heat for very long.
What about that one?
[laughs]
You're right, Shahnyaa.
That is volcanic,
but a rock that big would never fit
in the kiidhah zhee.
Oh, about more like this one
and we'll be in business.
Okay, we've got our volcanic rocks.
What's next?
Five sheets of plywood.
Mr. Patak does stuff with wood.
Maybe he has some.
All set.
It's wonderful that you're making a maqivik.
My parents had one.
It always helped us feel better.
Maqivik?
Is that what you call a steam bath in Inupiaq?
Yes.
You'll have to come use ours once it's all done.
[chuckling]: I feel more relaxed already.
♪ [wheels squeaking]
[straining]: This...
is... not... easy as pie.
[both grunting]
[straining]: I... know!
[both exclaim]
Something isn't right about these steam bath instructions.
Yeah.
It's weird that it says to buy volcanic rocks
when they're all over the ground around here.
It also says we need
a drill press and a table saw?
Kids shouldn't be using tools like that,
at least not without a grownup.
I'm not even allowed to use a hammer by myself.
It seems like maybe these instructions
weren't written for a place like where we live.
Or for kids.
[sighs] Maybe this isn't
the kind of steam bath Auntie Midge meant.
[sighing]: You're right.
Let's get this plywood back to Mr. Patak.
[laughs]
Oh my, no!
I didn't mean a steam bath like that.
[sighs] That's for someone
who's a carpenter and builds things all the time.
I meant a traditional kiidhah zhee,
more like this.
Get some willow, tie together, dig a hole,
cover, and done!
MOLLY: Oh!
[giggling]: That does look easier to build.
Aanaii,I'll show you how it's done.
♪
Be sure your hands are out of the way and cut
the willow as straight as you can.
Mahsi',tree.
[wood splits]
[thuds]
[grunts]
Thanks, Molly.
Your turn, Oscar.
Thank you, tree.
[wood splitting]
Great job!
You too, Molly.
Nice work.
Now let's get harvesting.
[wood snapping]
♪
MOLLY: "Step one, set up the willow saplings."
♪
OSCAR: "Step two, tie the intersections."
♪
MOLLY: "Step three, tie the top all together."
♪
OSCAR: "Step four,
dig a pit to place volcanic rocks."
♪
[sniffing]
[shuffling dirt]
[giggles]
MOLLY: "Step five, cover with blankets
to keep the steam inside."
♪
♪
♪ We did it!
We built a steam bath!
This iseasy as pie.
We might even get it done in time
to help my mom get well
so she can take her exam.
Whoa.Wow.
Almost!
Now all you need are some volcanic rocks.
We've got that covered, Auntie Midge.
GRANDPA NAT: Ooh, hoo, hoo.
The rocks are nice and hot.
[hissing]
Oh, now I get it.
Steam bath.
Grandpa Nat heated the rocks outside in a fire
and carried them into the kiidhah zhee.
It should be nice and hot.
Wow, sweetheart.
Mahsi'choo.
It's just like the one my mom had at our house
when I was a kid.
[steam hissing][sighs]
I can see why you like this.
It's super relaxing.
Mm.
Isn't it?
[deep sigh]
♪
Remember to take deep breaths, my love.
♪
I will, Mom.
[sighs]
Did you say something?
Oh, no.
Just really enjoying the steam.
[sighs]
Thank you, Mom, for keeping the kiidhah zhee
a part of our lives.
[breathes deeply]
Hey, it worked, I can breathe!
Mahsi', Shitsuu Catherine.
[steam hissing]
[both breathe deeply]
Hey, everyone! Molly here
to answer your questions about life in Alaska.
Anna in Missouri asks,
"Do all Alaskans live in igloos?"
Let's find out.
[clicks]
BOTH: Hi, Molly!
GIRL: Of course we don't live in igloos.
My house is made of logs.
My house is an apartment
and we have neighbors.
GIRL: Right now, we're at the Alaska Native Heritage Center.
They have a bunch of
traditional Native houses that we get to explore.
This is a longhouse from Southeast Alaska.
BOY: Look, there's a sign!
The sign says
there's lots of trees in this area.
In this book, it says a lot of houses are made out of wood.
My house is also made out of wood,
but it's built differently than this house.
♪
This house is from Interior Alaska.
The sign says Athabascans
traditionally moved around to fish and hunt.
This book, it says nowadays, the seasonal lifestyle
has given way to villages and larger communities.
My mom grew up in a village, and I live in a city.
Look, it's just like my house.
♪
This is a sod house from Northwest Alaska,
and it looks really different
without snow all over it.
My grandfather told me that he used to
live in a house like this.
♪
Reading information is helpful because
it'll help you learn some facts, like,
the word igloo comes from the wordiglu.
In my mother's language,
St. Lawrence Island Yup'ik, they call itnenglu.
But they all mean house.
BOTH: Bye, Molly!
[click]
Mahsi'choo!
Thanks for asking and see you next time!
MOLLY: "In the Dark of Day"
[school bell ringing]
Whoa!
It's so dark out here.
Is it really only
Yup!
This time of year,
the sun goes down pretty early.
It's still so strange to me.
They don't do dark daytimes like this back in Texas.
I love it when it gets dark super early.
Makes me feel like I'm staying up way past my bedtime.
OSCAR [gasping]: What was that?
[sighs] Okay, there's nothing there.
Whew.MOLLY: Huh.
What do you think Oscar's doing over there?
I don't know.
Let's find out.
♪
Oscar?
[startled yelling]
[both exclaim]
Oscar!
Are you okay?
He's probably lost because it's so dark.
Your house is that way, Oscar.
No, I'm not lost. It's just,
I really don't like walking home from school in the dark.
Especially because yesterday,
[whispering]: I saw...
A monster.
[loudly]: A monster?
Shh!
Keep your voices down.
We don't want to start a panic.
Um, I don't know,Oscar.
I'm pretty sure monsters aren't real.
Maybe you just thought it was a monster,
but it was really something else.
Oh, it was a monster, all right.
Made monster-y noises and everything.
Well, how about this?
Why don't Trini and I walk home with you?
Because if there is a monster out there,
you shouldn't be by yourself.
Mahsi',Molly.
Okay, let's go!
♪
[sighs]
MOLLY AND TRINI: Oscar?
Oh, coming!
[cawing]
If I was a monster,
I would eat so much fry bread.
Who would stop me?
Roar! I'm a monster!
[whispering]: Molly,
not too loud.
The monster will hear us.
Oscar, there is no monster.
But if there is a monster,
I'm going to march right up and talk to it.
[Oscar stammering]
Um... what's the matter?
M, m, m...M, m, m, m, m...
♪
[dramatic rumbling]
Yup.
[whispering]: That's a monster.
Run!
Angal!
Come on!
[all exclaiming]
[catching breath, whimpering]
ALL [panting]: Whew.
I thought you said
if you saw the monster,
you were gonna go talk to it.
Well, I was gonna.
But then it started going...
[imitates rumbling]
and I realized I don't speak monster.
Okay, we know two things:
it's dark when school is over,
and there's definitely a monster out there.
So what do we do?
[gulps] Monsters like the dark.
That's probably why it's hanging around.
Because the sun goes down so early right now.
But when the sun stops going down so early,
it'll be light outside.
And the monster will go away!
How long until the sun stops going down so early?
Let's check this website about weather.
TRINI: A weather website?
How does that help us?
We need to know when the sun goes down,
not if it's gonna snow.
I know. But look!
It can also tell us
what time the sun will come up
and go down each day.
Okay, this table says that today,
the sun went down at :.
What time will the sun go down tomorrow?
MOLLY: Hm...
:.
It's going to get dark even earlier tomorrow?
Yes.
But, there's a thing called the Winter Solstice.
It's the shortest day of the year.
Oh, right!
After that, the sun starts to set later and later,
and the daylight lasts longer.
Well, that's a relief.
Okay, so how long until
it's light outside when we leave school?
MOLLY: : P.M.
January .
January ?January ?
We have to wait a month?
[sighs] That's what the table says.
Well, I can't do a month of monster.
It's okay, Oscar.
We'll think of something.
[gasps]: I've got it!
All we have to do is ask our parents
if we can miss a month of school!
Great idea, Trini.
I'm sure they won't mind if we missed a little school.
It's just a month.
[school bell rings]
So, your folks didn't go for it either, huh?
Nope.Nope.
Well, don't worry.
I came prepared.
Glowsticks?
A headlamp?
What are we gonna do with these?
[giggles] You'll see.
♪
Oscar?
Your headlamp?
[clicks]
Chyaa'.
Okay, let's go over the plan.
We find the monster,
and it's gonna try to scare us.
Right. But...
Since we're all lit up and glow-y,
we're going to scare the monster.
Exactly!
And the scare-er becomes the scare-ee.
There it is.
Okay, everyone,
on your mark, get set,
be scary!
ALL: Wah!
Boo!
Roar!
[kids making loud noises]
The, uh, monster doesn't look scared.
Be scarier!
Give it all you've got.
[kids making loud noises]
[rumbling]
Yeah, we're not scary.
Run!
Angal!
[shrieking]
[fire crackling]
[sighs]
It's gonna be a long month.
Who's hungry?[kids yelp]
So, is anyone going to
tell me why Oscar has been
so jumpy this week?
There's this thing on the way home...We're waiting for
the winter solstice so the sun will start...And it goes "guh-guh-guh,"
so we keep running away and......going down later and...
It's okay, I can tell her.
[sighs]
I'm scared of the dark.
Hm...
Oscar, do you remember the story
about the little zhohpup?
OSCAR: Wolf pup?
I think I remember that story.
Could you tell it to us?
Try to picture it as I tell it to you.
There was once a zhohpup
that was very scared of the dark.
[whining] Being afraid of the dark is troublesome for a wolf,
because the best time for a wolf to find food
is when it's dark outside.
Thezhoh pup didn't want to face the darkness,
but it was getting very hungry.
So he had no choice but to go out and look for food.
And when he did,
he heard a small noise.
[barks]
It was anotherzhoh pup!
The wolf realized he wasn't
the only one scared of the dark.
[sniffs][yips]
The pups became fast friends
and decided to go out looking for food together.
As the wolf made more friends,
he invited them to join in on the hunt.
He called their group a pack.
The group made the wolf
feel safe and brave.
And before long, the littlezhoh
was never scared of the dark again.
[howling]
There's strength in having a pack.
You don't have to be scared of the dark, Oscar.
Not when you have your wolf pack.
Ready to do this, wolf pack?
Ready!Ready!
♪
OSCAR: There it is.
Anybody scared?
Uh, nope.
Maybe it would help if we howled.
I think we should howl.
[howling]
Almost there!
And we can walk right on by.
Oscar?
What is it?
I'm not going to walk past the monster.
I'm going to walk right up to it.
If my wolf pack will go with me?
Let's do it!
OSCAR: No more running.
It's time to look that monster in the eye
and say, "You don't scare me."
Molly, can I use your flashlight?
[bag opening]
[clicks]
Huh?
That's not a monster!
Oh, it's just a great big pile of snow.
[laughter]
We were scared...
[laughing]: ...of a pile of snow?
Nice to finally meet you, Mr. Monster.
[laughter]
Oscar, you did it!
You were so brave.
Thanks to having my wolf pack with me.
Auntie Midge was right.
There's strength in having a pack.
[rumbling]
[snow spraying]
[rumbling]
[laughter]
[howling]
♪