Description

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A unique collaboration celebrating the importance of parkas in Yup'ik material culture

Parkas are part of a living tradition in southwest Alaska. Some are ornamented with tassels, beads, and elaborate stitching; others are simpler fur or birdskin garments. Although fewer fancy parkas are sewn today, many people still wear those made for them by their mothers and other relatives.

"Parka-making" conversations touch on every aspect of Yup'ik life--child rearing, marriage partnerships, ceremonies and masked dances, traditional oral instructions, and much more. In The Flying Parka, more than fifty Yup'ik men and women share sewing techniques and "parka stories," speaking about the significance of different styles, the details of family designs, and the variety of materials used in creating these functional and culturally important garments.

Based on nearly two decades of conversations with Yup'ik sewing groups and visits to the National Museum of the American Indian and the National Museum of Natural History, this volume documents the social importance of parkas, the intricacies of their construction, and their exceptional beauty. It features over 170 historical and contemporary images, full bilingual versions of six parka stories, and a glossary in Yup'ik and English.

About the Author

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Ann Fienup-Riordan is author of numerous books on the Native peoples of Alaska, including Ellavut/Our Yup'ik World and Weather: Continuity and Change on the Bering Sea Coast, coauthored with Alice Rearden, who is primary translator for Calista Education and Culture. Yup'ik language expert Marie Meade has worked with the CEC team for many years and teaches classes in Yup'ik language and culture at the University of Alaska Anchorage.