Stories for Future Generations / Qulirat Qanemcit-llu Kinguvarcimalriit: The Oratory of Yup'ik Elder Paul John
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.”

1137062316
Stories for Future Generations / Qulirat Qanemcit-llu Kinguvarcimalriit: The Oratory of Yup'ik Elder Paul John
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.”

45.0 Out Of Stock
Stories for Future Generations / Qulirat Qanemcit-llu Kinguvarcimalriit: The Oratory of Yup'ik Elder Paul John

Stories for Future Generations / Qulirat Qanemcit-llu Kinguvarcimalriit: The Oratory of Yup'ik Elder Paul John

Stories for Future Generations / Qulirat Qanemcit-llu Kinguvarcimalriit: The Oratory of Yup'ik Elder Paul John

Stories for Future Generations / Qulirat Qanemcit-llu Kinguvarcimalriit: The Oratory of Yup'ik Elder Paul John

Paperback

$45.00 
  • SHIP THIS ITEM
    Temporarily Out of Stock Online
  • PICK UP IN STORE

    Your local store may have stock of this item.

Related collections and offers


Overview

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.”


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780295983509
Publisher: University of Washington Press
Publication date: 10/01/2003
Pages: 856
Product dimensions: 6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.50(d)
Age Range: 18 Years

About the Author

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.

Table of Contents

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

From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews