Yup'ik

The Yupʼik or Yupiaq people are an Indigenous group living in western and southwestern Alaska. They live near the coast from southern Norton Sound to the Bering Sea, including areas around the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Nelson, and Nunivak Islands. They also live along the northern coast of Bristol Bay and the Alaska Peninsula.

The Yupʼik are the largest group among the Alaska Native peoples. They speak the Central Alaskan Yupʼik language, which belongs to the Eskimo–Aleut language family. In the 2010 U.S. Census, more than 34,000 people identified as Yupʼik, with most living in small communities across their traditional lands. Today, many Yupʼik people balance modern life with traditional ways, still hunting, fishing, and gathering food. They also keep their language alive through schools and community efforts.

Naming

Originally, the Yupʼik people used slightly different names depending on where they lived. In the northern areas like Norton Sound and Yukon, they used the name Yupʼik. In the southern areas, such as Kuskokwim and Bristol Bay, they used Yupiaq. Some places, like Chevak, Nunivak, and Egegik, have their own special names: Cupʼik, Cupʼig, and Tarupiaq.

Today, Yupʼik is commonly used for all of them, though the special names are still kept in some areas. The word Yupʼik comes from yuk, meaning "person," and -pik, meaning "real" or "genuine." So, Yupʼik really means "real person." Their neighbors also have their own names for the Yupʼik people.

History

Origins

The ancestors of the Yupik and the Aleut likely began in eastern Siberia. They moved east and reached the Bering Sea area about 10,000 years ago. Studies of blood types and language show that the ancestors of American Indians arrived in North America in several groups before the Eskimo and Aleut peoples. These groups traveled across the Bering land bridge, which was exposed between 20,000 and 8,000 years ago during icy periods.

By around 3,000 years ago, the early Yupiit settled along the coasts of what is now western Alaska. They moved up rivers, such as the Yukon and Kuskokwim, around 1400 C.E., reaching places like Paimiut on the Yukon and Crow Village (Tulukarugmiut) on the Kuskokwim.

United States colonization

The United States purchased Alaska from the Russian Empire on March 30, 1867. It was first called the Department of Alaska, then the District of Alaska, and later the Territory of Alaska before becoming the State of Alaska in 1959.

During the early years under American control, the government paid little attention to the area. There were attempts to exploit the natural resources. Missions led by Moravian Protestant and Jesuit Catholic groups were set up along the Kuskokwim and lower Yukon rivers. Traditional Yup’ik buildings for men, called the Qasgiq, were removed due to pressure from these missions. In these mission schools, only English was allowed, and native languages were not permitted.

The economy suffered when an American trading company charged very high prices for goods. This continued until the Russo-Japanese war interrupted trade with Russia.

The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act was passed in 1971. This law is very important for Alaska Native economies and politics today.

Historiography

Before Europeans arrived, Yupʼik history was passed down through spoken words. Storytellers in each village would share tales and histories with younger generations.

Studies of Yupʼik history began much later. Early researchers often treated all "Eskimo" cultures as the same. The first detailed academic work on a Yupʼik group was by Margaret Lantis in 1946. Other scholars, like James W. VanStone and Wendell H. Oswalt, also did important research. Ann Fienup-Riordan has written extensively about the Yupʼik, combining their voices with traditional history.

Very few Yupʼik scholars have written about their own history, but Harold Napoleon and Angayuqaq Oscar Kawagley have shared important perspectives.

Yuuyaraq

Yuuyaraq or Way of life is the Yupʼik term for their traditional way of living. It includes how they interact with others, care for the environment, and understand the world around them. Yuuyaraq teaches the right way to think and speak about all living things, especially animals they depend on for food, clothing, and shelter. These animals were seen as sensitive and able to understand human words, so respect was very important.

Yuuyaraq guides how to hunt and fish properly and how to treat the animals caught, to keep a good relationship with nature. Though not written down, it shaped every part of life for the Yupʼik people.

Elders

An Alaska Native elder is someone who has lived a long life, stays healthy, and holds lots of cultural knowledge. Elders share their wisdom with the community and families when needed. Traditionally, they taught younger people through storytelling. The word for elder comes from a Yupʼik word meaning “to be hard” or “to be tough,” showing the strength and respect given to elders in Yupʼik culture.

Society

The Yupʼik people have a special way of understanding family and community. Their family ties include parents, children, and grandparents, connecting two to four generations. They recognize relatives from both the mother’s and father’s sides equally, making each person part of a wide network of family members.

In winter, Yupʼik people would gather in larger villages to share resources and activities. Villages had specific buildings: smaller houses for women and children, and larger community houses for men. These buildings also served as schools and workshops where young people learned important skills for life. Leaders in these communities were often successful hunters who could provide for others, and they played key roles in decision-making and ceremonies.

Economy

The Yupʼik people live in a cold, flat land covered in tundra and wetlands, in an area about one-third the size of Alaska. In the past, they moved during different times of the year to find food such as sea and land animals, fish, birds, and berries. Today, they still use many natural resources for their homes, while also buying things from stores.

Their homeland has lots of salmon, making it one of the best places in the world for fishing. They have traditionally used kayaks for fishing and hunting in the water and dog sleds for traveling on land. Small roads connect only a few nearby villages, so snowmobiles and ice roads are important for winter travel.

Culture

The Yupʼik are one of five cultural groups of the Alaska Natives. The Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center is a non-profit cultural center located in Bethel near the University of Alaska Fairbanks Kuskokwim Campus. Its mission is to promote, preserve, and develop Yupʼik traditions through arts, crafts, performance, education, and language.

Language and literature

Language

The Yupʼik speak several Yupik languages. They are the largest ethnic group in Alaska, and their languages are spoken by many native people. Yupʼik is a suffixing language, meaning words are built by adding parts together. It has special ways to show numbers and other details but does not use gender or articles. The Yupʼik writing system was created in the 1960s by native speakers working with linguists.

Education

Yupʼik was not written until Europeans arrived. Children learned through stories and examples. Early schools were run by churches, but later policies tried to stop the use of Native languages in schools. Today, many Yupʼik communities have bilingual programs teaching both English and Yupʼik.

Literature

Yupʼik stories include traditional legends (qulirat) and historical narratives (qanemcit). These stories were passed down through generations and often included lessons and cultural values.

Art

Yupʼik people decorate many of their tools. Masks are a popular form of art, often used in ceremonies for good luck in hunting. Traditional clothing, made from animal skins, is also important. These clothes were designed to keep people warm in cold weather.

Clothing

Yupʼik clothing was made from animal skins and included items like parkas and boots. These clothes were very effective at keeping people warm. Today, many Yupʼik people also wear modern clothing.

Mask

Yupʼik masks are used in ceremonies and are made from wood. They were often destroyed after use. These masks were important in traditional dances and rituals.

Music and dance

Yupʼik dancing is a traditional activity often performed to songs. Dancers use drums and fans to add rhythm and movement. Dancing is important for both social and spiritual life in Yupʼik communities.

Yupik Dance Festivals

Yupʼik communities hold dance festivals called Yurarpak where they share their traditions and celebrate their culture.

Toys and games

One traditional toy is the Eskimo yo-yo, a skill toy made from sealskin and caribou sinew. It is popular among Alaskans and tourists.

Doll

Yupʼik dolls are dressed in traditional clothing and made from materials like driftwood or bone. They were important in Yupʼik culture and sometimes used by shamans.

Cuisine

Yupʼik food comes from hunting, fishing, and gathering. They eat fish like salmon, sea mammals, and berries. Traditional foods include akutaq (Eskimo ice cream) and fermented fish heads.

Fish

Fish, especially salmon, are a main food for Yupʼik people. They also eat fermented fish heads called tepas.

Mammals

Muktuk, made from beluga whale skin and fat, is a traditional Yupʼik food.

Plants

Berries are used to make jams and jellies, and a special treat called akutaq.

Ceremonies

Yupʼik ceremonies include the Bladder Festival, Festival of the Dead, Messenger Feast, and others.

Religion

Shamanism

Traditionally, Yupʼik beliefs included shamanism, where shamans acted as leaders and connectors between people and spirits. They used masks and dances in ceremonies.

Christianity

Many Yupʼik people became Christian through the influence of Russian Orthodox, Moravian, and Catholic missionaries. This brought changes to their beliefs and way of life.

Health

Traditional foods like fish and marine mammals help protect against heart disease and diabetes. However, many people now eat more store-bought foods, which can lead to health problems like weight gain and high blood pressure.

Clean water and proper sewage systems are big challenges in many places where Yup'ik people live. Some villages still rely on plastic buckets for toilets, and many do not have running water.

Since the 1960s, alcohol use has become a serious issue, causing many problems in families and communities. This has led to injuries, health issues, and sadly, many deaths. The flu pandemic of 1918 was also very deadly for Yup'ik people, affecting many families and villages.

Modern tribal unions

Alaska Native tribal entities for the Yupʼik are recognized by the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs.

The Alaska Native Regional Corporations of the Yupʼik were established in 1971 when the United States Congress passed the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA).

Notable Central Alaskan Yupʼik people

Here are some well-known people from the Central Alaskan Yupʼik community:

• Rita Pitka Blumenstein (1936–2021) was the first certified traditional doctor in Alaska.
• Ramy Brooks, born in 1968, is a kennel owner, motivational speaker, and dog musher. He has Yupʼik and Athabaskan heritage.
• Callan Chythlook-Sifsof, born in 1989, is a snowboarder who was the first Yupʼik person on the U.S. National Snowboard Team and the Winter Olympic Team.
• Crow Village Sam lived from 1893 to 1974.
• Valerie Nurr'araaluk Davidson serves as Lieutenant Governor of Alaska.
• Lyman Hoffman is a Democratic member of the Alaska Senate.
• Emily Johnson, born in 1976, is a dancer, writer, and choreographer of Yupʼik descent.
• Oscar Kawagley (Angayuqaq), born in 1934, was a Yupʼik anthropologist, teacher, and actor.
• Marie Meade is an expert in the Yugtun language.
• Olga Michael lived from 1916 to 1979 and was from Kwethluk village.
• Peter Kaiser was the first musher of Yupʼik descent to win the Iditarod.
• Walt Monegan, born in 1951, was the former Police Chief of Anchorage.
• Byron Nicholai is a musician known for going viral online.
• Mary Peltola, born in 1973, is a Democratic politician and U.S. Representative for Alaska's at-large congressional district. She was the first Alaska Native and the first woman to represent Alaska in the U.S. House of Representatives.
• Uyaquq (from Helper Neck) lived around 1860 to 1924 and was a Moravian helper, author, translator, and inventor of a Yupʼik writing system.

Non-enrolled lineal descendants

• Bristol Palin is a public speaker and appeared on reality television.
• Todd Palin, born in 1964, worked in the oil fields, as a commercial fisherman, and as a snowmobile racer. He served as the First Gentleman of Alaska from 2006 to 2009.