Sam Stepanoff was born in Perryville in 1939. He remembers the sky lite of the sod houses, and laying in bed as his uncles and the men around would tell stories of their long journeys kayaking and hunting. He remembers how everyone was instructed to turn off all the lights during war time whenever they heard a plane flying overhead. Sam shares his experiences to the youth to encourage hard work, to remember to care for your elders and to always keep a good sense of humor. He has lived in Chignik Lake since moving there at the age of 13, where shortly after he built his own house which still stands today.