Introduction
For centuries, the Yupik people of Alaska have lived in the northwest corner of North America, developing a distinct culture based on communal living, spiritual beliefs, and subsistence farming. This essay will examine the cultural practices and beliefs that shape Yupik’s attitudes, actions, and interactions with the physical and social environment. It will also examine the theories that explain why the Yupik hold these beliefs and behaviors. This approach will provide insight into the Yupik people’s distinct way of seeing and interacting with their environment.
Overview of the Yupik People
Indigenous people known as Yupik live on Alaska’s western and southern coasts. The Central Alaskan Yup’ik (CAY) and the Siberian Yup’ik are two separate subgroups of them (Kugo, 2022). The CAY makes up the largest group and will be the subject of this essay. Historically, nomadic people lived primarily through subsistence fishing and hunting in small villages. They also had a robust spiritual philosophy based on shamanism and animism (Oparin, 2021). Despite technological advances, they continue to practice many of the same customs and live in many of the same villages. Their culture and beliefs are still strong, and they work hard to preserve and honor their heritage.
Typical Day
The Yupik has a long tradition of rising early, usually before the sun peeks over the horizon and the first rays of dawn appear. This custom represents a typical day and has been practiced for generations. Men go to the sea in boats or on foot in the summer to go hunting or fishing in the cool morning air, while women stay home to prepare meals (Pratt & Heyes, 2022). During the winter, the men gather firewood or care for the sled dogs, while the women venture outside to gather ingredients for the meals in nearby berry patches and seaweed beds (Pratt & Heyes, 2022). This shift in roles is likely due to harsh winter conditions that make hunting difficult for men and foraging difficult for women. It serves as an adaptation to their environment. In the evenings, after dinner, the families gather in the community center to tell stories, sing traditional songs, and participate in other cultural activities, preserving their traditional customs and culture.
Cultural Beliefs and Practices
The Yupik people’s cultural philosophy is based on the concept of qanruyutet, which means “respect for all living things.” This concept is founded on the belief that all living things have souls and deserve to be respected (Solís, 2022). The belief underpins their spiritual practices and ceremonies and how they interact with the environment and one another. A potlatch is a ceremonial feast held by Indigenous cultures on North America’s West Coast to commemorate significant events such as birth, marriage, or death (Solís, 2022). These ceremonies are used by the Yupik people to honor their ancestors and to demonstrate the importance of their belief system, qanruyutet.
The Yupik people live a subsistence lifestyle because they have a deeply ingrained sense of the value of community. In this culture, cooperation and teamwork are highly valued because they benefit the entire community. This sense of community is also evident in the spiritual world, where people congregate to commemorate momentous occasions or to pay respect to their ancestors. The Yupik people’s collaborative culture is fundamental to their identity and aids in forming a tight-knit community. The Yupik people’s strong sense of community is evident in how they look out for one another and cooperate to ensure the welfare of the entire group.
Theories Explaining Yupik Beliefs and Behaviors
One theory that aims to explain Yupik’s beliefs and behaviors is the cognitive theory. Following this theory, people try to understand the world by leaning on their cultural values and customs. The Yupik people are no different from other indigenous peoples in that they strongly believe in qanruyutet, or respect for all living things, which aids in their understanding of their place in the cosmos (Solís, 2022). In addition, they celebrate significant events and remember their ancestors’ lives through spiritual rituals and practices. By doing this, they can accept the world around them and feel a sense of belonging. This theory sheds light on the operation of Yupik culture and explains why it is so significant to them.
Another theory is the Ecological Theory, which holds that the environment primarily influences human behavior. The Yupik people, who have evolved a subsistence lifestyle and spiritual practices over centuries to survive in their environment, can be an example of this theory (Solís, 2022). The Yupik people have a strong bond with and respect for their environment, impacting their beliefs and actions. To survive in their environment, the Yupik people evolved their subsistence way of life and spiritual beliefs, which they still practice today.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Yupik people of Alaska are Indigenous people with a unique culture who have lived in the area for many years. They have distinctive cultural practices and beliefs that influence how they perceive the world. These ideas originated in a long history of communal harmony, spirituality, and subsistence living. The Yupik people also value belonging to a community and treating all living things with respect. Several theories, including Cognitive and Ecological theories, can account for these attitudes and actions. The Yupik people are a fascinating illustration of how a culture sees itself and the outside world.
References
Kugo, Y. (2022). Community Voices, Practices, and Memories in Environmental Communication: Iliamna Lake Yup’ik Place Names, Alaska. In Anthropological Perspectives on Environmental Communication (pp. 103-125). Cham: Springer International Publishing.
Oparin, D. (2021). Liudmila Ainana (1934–2021). Études Inuit Studies, 45(1-2), 533–542. Web.
Solís, P. (2022). The Routledge Handbook of Development and Environment. B. McCusker, W. Ahmed, & M. Ramutsindela (Eds.). Routledge.