Charles Sean Asiqluq Topkok RECOMMENDED: APPROVED
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Inupiat Ilitqusiat: inner views of our Inupiaq values Item Type Thesis Authors Topkok, Charles Sean Asiqłuq Download date 04/10/2021 07:56:24 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/11122/6405 INUPIAT ILITQUSIAT: INNER VIEWS OF OUR INUPIAQ VALUES By Charles Sean Asiqluq Topkok RECOMMENDED: Dr. Thereslrrlohn Dr. Beth Leonard, Advisory Committee Chair s-Cultural Studies APPROVED: INUPIAT ILITQUSIAT: INNER VIEWS OF OUR INUPIAQ VALUES A DISSERTATION Presented to the Faculty of the University of Alaska Fairbanks in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY By Charles Sean Asiqluq Topkok, B.A., M.A. Fairbanks, Alaska December 2015 Abstract Inupiat Ilitqusiat: Inner Views o f Our Inupiaq examines Values how Inupiat pass down elements of our cultural heritage to future generations. The research is community-driven by the Pavva Inupiaq Dancers of Fairbanks, families with Inupiaq children in their household, and other Inupiat worldwide. My doctoral research addresses how we view each Inupiat Ilitqusiat (Inupiaq Values), how our Inupiat Ilitqusiat have been passed down, and how we pass down our Inupiaq cultural heritage to our future cultural-bearers. Participants talk about our Inupiat Ilitqusiat to acknowledge that we are Inupiat wherever we live. I assert that in order to conduct culturally appropriate research with Inupiaq people, it is imperative to observe cultural protocols and values, to equally include Indigenous narrative history and Western literature in the review process, and to observe Inupiaq methods and methodology when gathering data. I examined and applied the ways my ancestors have gathered and presented data, formalizing for academia an Inupiaq way of conducting research. I have conducted 17 group interviews corresponding to the 17Inupiat Ilitqusiat. In my findings, I acknowledge that our Inupiaq values help define our heritage. They are embedded in our lives and in our stories. They are in our spirit, passed down to us through our ancestors. Each Inupiat Ilitqusiat converges with each other when we examine how each cultural value applies to our lives. We need to continue talking about our cultural values in every village to ensure our descendants live their cultural heritage. v Table of Contents Page Signature Page...................................................................................................................................... i Title Page..............................................................................................................................................iii Abstract.................................................................................................................................................v List of Figures..................................................................................................................................... xi List of Tables.....................................................................................................................................xiii List of Appendices.............................................................................................................................xv Acknowledgments.............................................................................................................................xvii Chapter 1:Aullaqqisaaq (Introduction).......................................................................................... 1 Overview................................................................................................................................................. 2 Purpose of the study.................................................................................................................................4 Statement o f the problem or “intellectual puzzle......................................................................................... ” 5 Research Questions...................................................................................................................................6 Research Significant to the Researcher..................................................................................................... 7 Chapter 2:Qimilguruq (One Reviews It) An Inupiaq Literature and Narrative Review 9 Introduction to Qimilguruq......................................................................................................................10 History of the Inupiat Ilitqusiat...............................................................................................................11 Inupiaq History...............................................................................................................................................14 Outsiders ’ perspectives.................................................................................................................................. 14 Inupiaq perspectives....................................................................................................................................... 17 Indigenous Values..................................................................................................................................20 Indigenous Values Worldwide....................................................................................................................... 20 Alaska Native Values...................................................................................................................................... 21 Qimilguruq (One Reviews It) Observations............................................................................................ 23 Chapter 3:Katimarugut (We Are Meeting) An Inupiaq Methodology................................... 25 vii Introduction to Katimarugut ................................................................................................................... 26 Inupiat Meetings..............................................................................................................................................27 Other Indigenous Methodologies ............................................................................................................28 Gathering Data Utilizing Cultural Protocols ........................................................................................... 29 Methods ................................................................................................................................................. 30 Location of Group Interviews ..................................................................................................................32 Inupiat Ilitqusiat Observed During Katimarugut ......................................................................................33 Katimarugut (We Are Meeting) Observations .........................................................................................37 Chapter 4:Sagviqtuq (One Explains Oneself) An Inupiaq Framework................................. 41 Introduction to Sagviqtuq (One Explains Oneself)..................................................................................41 Theoretical and Analytical Frameworks..................................................................................................42 An Inupiat Ilitqusiat Framework.............................................................................................................47 The Eagle Wolf Dance Model .................................................................................................................50 Sagviqtuq (One Explains Oneself) Observations.....................................................................................50 Chapter 5:Inupiat Ilitqusiat Kayyituya (My Inupiat Ilitqusiat Research) Inuk- (Person).53 Kaqiqsimauraaliq Irrutchikun (Spirituality)............................................................................................ 54 Uqaaqtuaqich Kaqiqsimauraaliq Irrutchikun (Personal Stories of Spirituality)...................................55 Atchiksualiq (Humility).......................................................................................................................... 59 Uqaaqtuaqich Atchiksualiq (Personal Stories of Humility) ................................................................. 60 Paaqsaaqatautaihq (Avoid Conflict)........................................................................................................64 Uqaaqtuaqich Paaqsaaqatautailiq (Personal Stories of Avoid Conflict) ............................................ 65 Ilisimaliq Uqapialigmik (Knowledge of Language).................................................................................70 Uqaaqtuaqich Ilisimaliq Uqapialigmik (Personal Stories of Knowledge of Language) ....................... 71 Savvaqtuliq (Hard Work)....................................................................................................................... 76 Uqaaqtuaqich Savvaqtuliq (Personal Stories of Hard Work) ...............................................................77 Quvianniulikun Tipsisaagihq (Humor) ................................................................................................... 81 Inupiat Ilitqusiat Framework for Inuk (Person) ...................................................................................87 Chapter 6:Inupiat Ilitqusiat Kayyituya (My Inupiat Ilitqusiat Research)Ilat - (Family) ...89 Ilisimaliq Ilagiiligmik (Knowledge of Family Tree)................................................................................90 Uqaaqtuaqich