Stories for Future Generations / Qulirat Qanemcit-llu Kinguvarcimalriit

Before it was written, this book was spoken. For ten winter days in 1977, the orator Paul John—widely respected as a dean of Yup’ik elders, and recognized for his tireless advocacy of Yup’ik language and traditions—held an audience of Yup’ik students rapt at Nelson Island High School, in southwest Alaska. Hour after hour he spoke to the young people, sharing life experiences and Yup’ik narratives, never repeating a tale. Now, more than a quarter-century after Paul John’s extraordinary performance, Sophie Shield’s translations and Ann Fienup-Riordan’s editing have brought his words back to life, and to a new audience. This book records one elder’s attempt to create a moral universe for future generations through stories about the special knowledge of the Yup’ik people. Tales both authentically Yup’ik and marked by Paul John’s own unique innovations are presented in a bilingual edition, with Yup’ik and English text presented in facing pages. As Paul John says, "In this whole world, whoever we are, if people speak using their own language, they will be presenting their identity and it will be their strength."

Paul John was among the last to receive a traditional Yup'ik education, spending his childhood in the communal men's house, where he heard constant recitations of Yup'ik tales and personal experiences. In 2002 he received the Alaska Governor's Award as Distinguished Humanities Educator. Sophie Shield is an accomplished translator and educator working for the Bilingual Department of the Lower Kuskokwan School District in Bethel, Alaska. Ann Fienup-Riordan is an anthropologist and author of numerous books on the peoples of Alaska, including The Living Tradition of Yup'ik Masks, Agayuliyararput: Our Way of Making Prayer, and Freeze Frame: Alaska Eskimos in the Movies.

Preface Acknowledgments Kangrilnguum ayuquciq man'a tekilluku --Paul John's life up to this time Taun qanemiciq ayaagturatullrulliniuq arulaiyuunani --That story went on and on without stopping A'ka Tamaani Yuullrat --Life in the Past Cingumailriit kingumta yuitnek --To encourage future generations Allamek-gguqella yuituq --They say the world is populated by on one else [but relatives] Yuut Ungungssit-llu --Humans and Animals Tan'gaurluq nakacuut ayautellrat --The boy who was taken away by bladders Yuuk malruk atertellrek --Two who drifted away Yuilqumun ayalleq nunameggnek --The one who left her village and went to the wilderness Enret aulukellrata iqukegtarii --A good ending for taking care of bones Nunakun ciutelget --Those who have ears through the ground Tan'gaurluum Qayassiigmi Uitallra --The boy who had an experience on Qayaassiq Tamaani Cat Paivngallratni --Back When Extraordinary Beings Were Present Qamungelria --The old bear Amiingirayulit --Those who are good at blocking doors Anglingnarlit --The ones who grow Kiirraraarmeng Yuullret --Those Who Lived Alone Angun-ciissiq-llu --The man and the ciissiq Apalek --One with a grandfather Angutet Arnat-llu --Men and Women Angutem Anrutaanek arcaqakinrilnguq --The one who didn't think much of a man's stomach Arnaq anagkenglleq --The woman who won Aavacin --Aavacin Uqilalria arnaq --A woman who was a fast runner Malrugnek nulialek --The one with two wives Aipaqellrianun alerquun --Advice to couples Angayuqat Irniarit-llu --Parents and Children Aanaka-llii ner'aqa-llii --I have eaten my mother Umyuamek catevkarillerkaq --The way the mind can be hurt Angelria angun --The big man Qetunraq qamiqurrlainaq --Son who was nothing by a head Yupiuyaraq --Becoming a Yup'ik Person Elpecenek uptuci --You are getting yourselves ready Niicugninqegcaarturaasqelluki qanrucetullruit --They told them to listen thoroughly and attentively Nasaurluut waten elpeciucetun ayuqucirkaatnek qanaataqluki --He would give advice to young girls like you about proper behavior and conduct Tan'gaurliq kangingaqami taugaam taqtuli --Boy who had to find out for himself Alerquutet iinrutun ayuqut --Advice is like medicine Ungalek --One with a beard Qanruyutelten maligtengnaqu'urluki ernikina ernerpak --Try to follow what was said to you all day Kass'at yuullrat qacignarqenrituq --White people do not live easy lives Anngaat Uyuraat-llu --Older Brothers and Younger Siblings Anngaan nayagani-llu --The older brother and his younger sister Anngaq uyuraq-llu --The older brother and the younger brother Anngaqelriik --Those to who were brothers Anngaq nayagani-llu --An older brother and his younger sister Angalkut --Shamans Tumaralria --Tumaralria Tumaralria Kangangaq-llu --Tumaralria and Kangangaq Kukugyarpak --Kukugyarpak Aatama atallranek --My father's deceased father Angalkut --Angalkut Angalkunek qanemcit --Stories of angalkut Temcinarqerrlulriit --Some That Are Slightly Funny Temcinarqerrlulriit --Some that are slightly funny Tengssuucet akaar paqnanarqellruut --Airplanes were interesting a long time ago Cam Ayagniqarraallra --Origins Nunivaam yung'eqarraallra --How Nunivak first got its people Yupiit atunem anguyakutellrat --Yupiit going to war against each other Nukalpiat --Great Hunters Nukalpialler --The bad nukalpiaq Nukalpiaq alegyunglleq imarpigmek --A nukalpiaq who became confident [he could travel and hunt] on the ocean Tamaani yuut ucurnarqellratni --In those days when people did things to be pround of Asgirpagkaq Uqumyaar-llu --Adgirpagkaq and Uqumyaar Pamailnguaraurluuq --One who was always slow to respond Yuut atertellri --People who drifted away Atertaulleq yuk --The person who drifted away Tan'gaurluq tengyugngalria --The boy who could fly Ellminek Ikayuryqraq Yuilqumi --Yup'ik Survival Tools Makuat --Glittering particles used as compasses Anuqem tungai ellaliuryaraq-llu --Weather directions and forecasting Ellaliuryaraq --Checking the weather Ellarrlugmi cayaraq --What to do during a storm Ayuqucin pascirluku yuugi --Start living with something to back you up Yugtun igautellrit Kass'atun-llu mumigtellrit --Yup'ik transcription and translation Notes Glossary References