Yupiaq Worldview
Within this paper, a glimpse into the Yupiaq society will hopefully be accomplished by answering a few questions. First question, what is the Yupiaq worldview? Next, what are the core values that are essential to the success of Yupiaq society? And finally, how are those values expressed in their approach to subsistence behaviors and knowledge of their environment?
According to Kawagley, the worldview of the Yupiaq society is very basic in how they relate to ella, or the universe. The Yupiaq believe that the land is giver of life (p.7). Kawagley himself viewed nature as a part of themselves. They lived in harmony with the world around them and learned how to relate to other humans and the natural and spiritual worlds (p.8).
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The Yupiaq treated the land with respect and honored ella by understanding their observations. Listening and being careful of their surroundings by looking for the foreseeable effects on the environment and changing their behavior to combat those effects. They needed to take care of the tundra for it provided everything that was vital. The Yupiaq developed a consciousness of the treatment of time and space and a sense of responsibility.
They believed in sharing what they have, especially any hunting or fishing gains, to others in the village to include the elders. Their worldview consists of principles, or ideals that made sense of the world around them. This view of the world enabled them to make artifacts (tools for hunting and fishing, clothing, and shoes to name a very few) that were apt for their world. Everything that they made was sufficient, efficient, renewable, natural, eco-friendly, and compatible to their worldview. This was done as to not offend the animals or harm the landscape.
In regards to education of math and science, the Yupiaq learned many years ago how to avoid botulism and how much they needed to survive. As previously stated, ella provided all that was needed for sustaining life, and the Yupiaq took only what was needed. This thought process was key to their worldview.
Thoughts regarding math was on a very basic level and was simple for the Yupiaq. The Yupiaq do not think in additive or qualities of things. Since the Yupiaq were a tribe of hunter-gatherers, to use fish as an example, they would estimate what could fulfill their needs by acquiring enough that could fit in a box. They knew that the women could not clean any more fish than that in one day, so there was no need to take more than that. They also used math in the concept of time for traveling, basically how long it would
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take to travel. For the elders, science was a “quest for knowledge”, and they were open to discovery.
They were more astute future observations. As previously stated they learned how to avoid botulism. This was accomplished by burying food at certain depths depending on the type of meat to prevent decay, or adding salt to meats for preserving. This was vital to their survival, especially during months of no hunting. It was quite the basic ideas of cause and effect, but by honoring ella you can become informed. The traditional knowledge and experiences of the Yupiaq were adapted to the environment and learned through their daily life tasks (p.41). Complete and sudden change would mean the destruction of the Yupiaq worldview, but science continues to be an agent of change in their region (p.42).
There were myriad of core values essential to the success of the Yupiaq society. Success was not unilateral in the Yupiaq society. Of the most important of the core values, sharing made the top of the list. Sharing was about meeting the needs of the village and considering the feelings and well-being of everyone. For the Yupiaq, sharing is official and
required. Another core value was that of acting responsibly. For example, acting in responsible ways to ensure the arrival of the salmon, by not overfishing or taking the young ones. Acting in ways to ensure the life cycle. Paying attention to nature and its cycles means mindfulness. One’s attitude also plays an important role within the core values of the Yupiaq. Doing the right thing for the right reason is key. This all goes back to honoring ella and respecting what she offers and not abusing her. The Yupiaq knew that they were not the most powerful or important thing in the cosmos. What you do to nature, you do to yourself. It is all about the interconnectedness between all things. True with most indigenous people, especially that of the Yupiaq, they have a cyclical worldview. Time was not linear within Yupiaq society. Ceremonies reaffirmed that the cycles were functioning. This achieved balance and meaning. “How long” was not a term that the Yupiaq were accustomed to using. What was important were the cycles themselves. It was the natural cycles that were important in creating the balance. Paying attention to the cycles of the environment, they can make observations that ascertain the knowledge of the outcomes. For the Yupiaq, you must respect these processes. According to Kawagley, ceremonies were used to represent the cycles of the natural world. It teaches the proper actions, protocols, and cycles. Making of masks for some ceremonies meant that one was engaging on multiple levels of thinking. Ceremonies for a successful hunt was to honor the animal for allowing themselves to be seen. Just like ceremonies, ritual dancing and singing of songs were meant to “speak” of the deeper things life offered. The performers of such rituals were spiritually knowing, because this was an important way to communicate. These rituals honors the way of knowing, which keeps one focused, grounded, and balanced with the natural and spiritual realms. Reciprocity also played a big part in Native societies, especially those like the hunter-gatherers of the Yupiaq. This exchange added to the balance of the natural life cycles of the world. Having balance in the natural world created a balance with the spiritual world that was just as important to the Yupiaq. Throughout this paper, it demonstrated the Yupiaq worldview according to Kawagley. Within the text stated the importance of such worldviews like sharing and to accomplish success for the society of the Yupiaq. The balance between the natural and spiritual realms were discussed through the honoring of ella, and how the cycles of nature added to the balance. All life is interconnected, and people are the weak brother to nature.
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