Where the Echo Began
and Other Oral Traditions from Southwestern Alaska Recorded by Hans Himmelheber
Far more than just a dance, the dynamic choreography of the Yup'ik provides an illuminating window into the morality, social organization, and colonial history of this indigenous people. In Yupiit Yuraryarait, anthropologist Ann Fienup-Riordan begins with a brief historical overview of the colonization and development of Alaska from the Yup'ik point of view. Then, armed with oral history testimony spanning thirty years, she shows how singing and dancing are interconnected and imbued with meaning in this complex ritual. Accompanied by 150 original photographs by James Barker and a DVD of the dancing, this volume marks the first in-depth look at the Yup'ik people through the lens of interpretive dance.
