The language of these stories, Siberian Yupik, in this book were first written down by Russian educator and linguist, Gregoriy A. Menovshchikov, during his 30 years of teaching and working with Eskimo languages in Chukotka, Russian, beginning in the 1930s. Siberian Yupik is the ancestral language of more than 2,000 people equally divided between…

Six traditional Yup'ik stories are presented in Yup'ik along with English word-for-word translations. Five of the selections are traditional Yup'ik myths or legends called "qulirat"--stories that have been transmitted from generation to generation and often have supernatural elements. The sixth is a personal account of life in a…

Nine stories, told by a woman of the Lower Yukon Valley (Alaska), are presented here in Deg Hit'an Athabaskan on the left page and in English translation on the right page. The storyteller's English version of five of the stories is also included. Introductory sections contain a biography of Belle Deacon and notes on the gathering, transcription,…

Ten stories, in poem and narrative form, told by Anna Nelson Harry, are presented here. The stories represent a portion of the oral tradition of the Eyak, an Alaskan native nation of which few native speakers remain. An introductory section chronicles the history and decline of the Eyak, the research undertaken to preserve their culture, and the…

This collection of eighteen traditional stories are told in Koyukon Athabaskan, an American Indian language variety spoken in Alaska, on the left page and in English translation on the right page. Introductory sections provide background information on the oral tradition from which the stories come, the translations, the storyteller and her…

The stories published in this book are the result of a collaborative effort of the elders of the village of Tununak (Alaska), the Lower Kuskokwim School District, and school staff and students. The stories were told in Yup'ik by elders at various school and community gatherings. The book is divided into seven sections: (1) hunters and animal…

This collection of Aleut stories was originally collected by Russian ethnographer Waldemar Jochelson in 1909-10 in an attempt to preserve Aleut culture. An introductory chapter offers historical background, information about Aleut dialects and dialect groups, notes on the original fieldwork, and descriptive and technical information about the…

This volume contains 31 narratives traditionally told by Kipnuk (Alaska) elders, printed in both the Moravian and modern writing systems, without English translation. The elders relate rules of ethical behavior, prohibitions and commandments, and warnings against committing transgressions. The stories reveal the results that ensued from adherence…

Six stories told by Teddy Charlie, an Alaska native, in the Lower Tanana Athabaskan language of Minto, Alaska are presented here and illustrated with maps and photographs. A foreword offers background information on the storyteller and the recording of the stories. The six stories include: "When Minto Village First Began"; "How We…

This collection of 18 stories of the Scottie Creek People of Alaska is presented in both Upper Tanana, an Athabaskan language, and English in line-by-line translation. The stories, which include personal narratives, cultural explanations, and traditional tales, were recorded in 1988-94. The tales are told by Mary Tyone, a traditional storyteller…

The collection of 21 narratives of the Tatl'ahwt'aenn (Upper Ahtna, or Headwaters People) of Alaska focuses on stories about historical events and traditional territory. The stories are told by six elders in Upper Ahtna, one of four dialects of Ahtna, an Athabaskan language. An introductory section offers background information on the population,…

This collection of writings was compiled over a 19-year period (1972-91) by the last writer and one of the last storytellers of the Kenai dialect of Dena'ina (Tanaina) language of Cook Inlet, Alaska. Peter Kalifornsky is a literary artist and scholar born in 1911. The 147 writings are organized in eight chapters, with a prelude containing two…