Michael Francis Kazingnuk's the Eskimo History Story
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
The Eskimo History Story as told by Michael Francis Kazingnuk Transcribed by Kawerak’s Social Science Program Introduction Dear Reader, The Kawerak Social Science Program is happy to share this unique piece of history with you. This document is a typed rendering of a handwritten document by Michael Francis Kazingnuk which he titled: The Eskimo History Story. Mr. Kazingnuk was born on Big Diomede Island and in 1937 began the process of writing down the history of his people, from his perspective. His handwritten document is over 500 pages long and includes personal reflections and experiences, Iñupiaq vocabulary, traditional stories, song lyrics and other invaluable information. The original document is housed at the Alaska State Library (asl_MS_197 folders 1-5). The original document can be found on the Alaska State Library’s website at http://www.library.state.ak.us/hist/hist_docs/docs/asl_MS_197.pdf. We have included, in these introductory pages, a few images of the handwritten pages so that the reader can get a sense of that original document. Kawerak’s Social Science Program decided to undertake the large task of typing up the entire document so that it would be more easily accessible to the Native Village of Diomede, other residents of the Bering Strait region, researchers, and other interested parties. Lucinda Wieler, former Social Science Program Research Specialist, transcribed and proofed the majority of this document over the course of many months. Her patience and careful work are greatly appreciated. Please note that the document was transcribed word-for-word, preserving the original spelling, punctuation and grammar. We strove to be as accurate as possible, though due to the handwritten nature of the original text, there may be some errors in transcription. If you plan to use quotations from this document in other works, we encourage you to re-visit the original handwritten version. The document’s original formatting was also preserved. For example, one handwritten line is equivalent to one typed line in this document, and the text seen on one typed page in this document matches the handwritten text on one page in the original document. This was done so that the reader can more easily consult the original document to find the exact sections of text they are looking for. There are several places in the text where you will see brackets [ ]. These are not original to the text and were inserted by Kawerak to indicate our uncertainty about the transcription (e.g. [?]) or to convey other important information to the reader. We hope that you enjoy and find value in Mr. Kazingnuk’s work, as we have! Julie Raymond-Yakoubian Nome, Alaska 2017 Kawerak Inc. Social Science Program PO Box 948 Nome, AK 99762-0948 907-443-5231 [email protected] www.kawerak.org/socialsci.html Suggested document citation: Kazingnuk, Michael Francis. 1937, 1940. The Eskimo History Story. Alaska State Library - Historical Collections, ASL MS 197, folders 1-5. As transcribed by the Kawerak Social Science Program, Nome, AK. First Book of Bering Sea and Arctic Coast Eskimo history. As Told by Michael Francis Kazingnuk The Eskimo History Story – Michael Francis Kazingnuk ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The Eskimo History Story. As Told by Michael Francis Kazingnuk Nome Alaska November 12th 1937. Told about my life story, and about what I have been learned of many things about the True Eskimo History Story. I write and translate the Eskimo words to English words. The best I can. And I write about my good luck and bad luck in life. Something strange told me, go ahead and sit down in chair and write about what I left behind what happen in early days. And, let my friends and people read and learn what I have done as good deeds and bad deeds. Many civilization people like to know about the Eskimo primitive of her life And what to learn how they become to Eskimo in many years ago of her own history Eskimo life Sure enough. Eskimo live like a wild savage at this Bering Sea and Arctic secret [?] region at that time. Eskimos native was never know where exactly they were came from, or how they beginning to be Eskimo people race. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Transcribed by Kawerak’s Social Science Program 2 The Eskimo History Story – Michael Francis Kazingnuk ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Today, some smart people and civilized people said The Eskimos Native came from China! Asia! Japan! Russia! How about the Greenland Eskimo race and Where are they come from? And, how about the South Eastern Alaska Indians? Also American Indians? When civilization white people came around from the Europe to America. they discovered some so many Indian race or tribes in the America. Where are the Indians Tribes come from? What countys they have been traveling from and became of American Indian Tribes? Now, some few Eskimo learned and realized the Bering Sea Coast and Arctic coast and both the land has been warm climate at one time Because some people discovered some Mastodons skeletons at many place in Alaska. Some Eskimos tribes or race said. Sure! and truth enough we Eskimos are never has been come from the Asia, China, Japan, Russia. Eskimo is our race indeed. Because Some Eskimos discovered some Kaiaks and _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Transcribed by Kawerak’s Social Science Program 3 The Eskimo History Story – Michael Francis Kazingnuk ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Oomiaks some years ago in around the Endicott range Mountain peaks at the top. Also, many places of high mountain peaks near the top. Some Eskimo discovered some drifted woods. Proved to be high water mark in some many years ago. And, our Eskimo can’t proved when or what time the year it has been high water floods. Today, few Eskimos said one to another, and wandering. They, Said, we learned the high water flood marks in the high mountains it might be happened that time in Noah time. When? What time? Nobodys knows. Before the high water floods in that time There has been mysterious ancient wild populations scattered in all over the world. When high water flood beginning , some lucky and smart people might keep climbing in some high mountains and saved there own lives. How about the many differenet kinds of population words and language in around the Bering Sea Coast live and land also, Arctic Sea Coast live and land? In the Siberian coast at the Bering sea, there are some many numbers of native one who used no alphabets to read and write, _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Transcribed by Kawerak’s Social Science Program 4 The Eskimo History Story – Michael Francis Kazingnuk ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ English called them a Siberian Chuckchis. Eskimo called them a Kuthit, KitimKassuat. Their words and language hard to make understandings between from the Alaska Eskimo race. The Alaskan Eskimo race have own words and language Also, has no alphabets in her own race That make absolute unable to compare each other words and language between Kilimkassvat and Enopiyit. These Eskimos called themselfs according to their broken words and mixed language. Enopiyit, Innuit, Yuit, Yuipeet. Those Siberians Chuckchis words and language counts numbers in her own words. The words the says one two three’s, up to ten numbers. 1. Enan, 2. Ningrak, 3. Norook. 4. Eirak,. 5. Millingkan 6. Evan‐millingkan. 7. ningrak‐millingkan. 8. Amoroadkin, 9. KwananSitKin. 10. MinkhuTkin. And, Those Eskimos in around Alaska counts their own numbers of one two three’s. like this, 1. Atoseik, 2. Appa, 3. pingayowak, 4. sitommat. 5. Talimmat. 6. Akpinka. 7. omolgonnalkit. 8. pingasonmalgit, 9. Kullingokittalit, 10. Koolit That’s quite difference then the Siberian’s Chuckchis words and language from Alaskans Eskimos word and language. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Transcribed by Kawerak’s Social Science Program 5 The Eskimo History Story – Michael Francis Kazingnuk ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ And beside every words of their language to each side The Siberian and Eskimos it don’t suitable understanding to each other. Because it is very different words altogether. That’s why some smart Alaskan Eskimos said, we are not come from the Asia, China, Japan, Russia. If we has been traveled and came through the Siberia to Alaska we would to talk something like mixed Siberian Chuckchis words and language. Also, we would to used some part of the Chuckchis few words in our past of words and languages. When Chuckchi race or people say hello It’s said, Hok,‐yatik! Eskimo said. Moonga! Some part of Alaska natives said hello! according to their