In December 2022, Auk traveled to Guinea, West Africa, with her friends Marie, Mark, and François. While there, she met Jean, one of Marie’s cousins, and their conversation continued long after her return home. They reunited in December 2023 on a trip to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and by then had completely fallen for each other. For over a year, they worked together to secure Jean’s U.S. visa—hiring an immigration lawyer, gathering heartfelt documents, and waiting patiently for an Embassy appointment in Dakar. Finally, Jean’s visa was approved. Although the process isn’t entirely complete, they’re thrilled to be starting life together as the Balamous. With no firm arrival date set in advance, they chose not to hold a traditional wedding ceremony. Instead, they celebrated with a small service among close family and friends once Jean arrived in Nome. A larger reception will follow this fall in Nome—keep an eye out for our open invitation! We’re thrilled to be sharing our story here and hope it helps our families—many of whom haven’t met yet—get to know us. Thank you for stopping by, and if you’d like to celebrate with a gift or donation, your generosity means the world to us!

Born in Yomou, Guinea, Jean Richard now makes his home in Nome, Alaska, alongside his wife Auk. He is the sixth of Richard Balamou’s ten children and the second of Seny Joséphine Camara’s. Yomou sits near the borders of Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia in Guinea’s Forest Region, while Conakry, the capital, lies on the Atlantic coast with around two million residents. Jean studied bridge and roadway engineering at university, yet his true passion is music. From an early age he’s been writing, editing, and producing tracks, and today he’s a member of the Guinean rap collective Legendaire (check them out on YouTube!). Devout in his faith, Jean is known for his loyalty, generosity, and the deep care he shows to family and friends. Auk is the eldest of seven children of Tok and Marie Tozier. Her maternal grandparents are John Garrison and the late Laraine (Karmun) Garrison, and her maternal great-grandparents were the late Dan Karmun and Ethel (Davis) Karmun. Her paternal grandparents are the late Dave and Mary Tozier. Growing up in Sitnasuaq (Nome), Alaska, Auk spent her childhood learning subsistence with her family. Today, she works with Kawerak—a regional tribal corporation—where she dedicates herself to early childhood education, cultural revitalization, and encouraging local youth. Auk and Jean share a passion for exploring each other’s cultures and traditional practices, and they love traveling together—eagerly trying new foods, discovering unfamiliar landscapes, and embracing whatever adventures come their way.