Ataam Taikina: traditional knowledge and conservation ethics in the Yukon River Delta, Alaska Item Type Thesis Authors Cook, Chad M. Download date 03/10/2021 19:22:37 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/11122/4483 ATAAM TAIKINA: TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND CONSERVATION ETHICS IN THE YUKON RIVER DELTA, ALASKA By ChadM. Cook RECOMMENDED: Dr. Walkie Charles Dr. Michael Kosl>fy lcJllkiJ~r- Dr. William Schneider !- Pfc~/ Dr. Patrick Plattet, Committee Chair o?i"j~d~~ Director, Northern Studies Program APPROVED: ATAAM TAIKINA: TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND CONSERVATION ETHICS IN THE YUKON RIVER DELTA, ALASKA A THESIS Presented to the Faculty of the University of Alaska Fairbanks in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF ARTS By Chad M. Cook, B.A. Fairbanks, Alaska December, 2013 © 2013 Chad M. Cook v Abstract This research was conducted in collaboration with rural Yup’ik residents of the Yukon River delta region of Alaska. The thesis explores traditional knowledge and conservation ethics among rural Yup’ik residents who continue to maintain active subsistence lifestyles. From the end of July through August of 2012, ethnographic field research was conducted primarily through participant observation and semi-structured interviews, documenting Yup’ik subsistence hunting and fishing practices. Research participants invited me beluga whale hunting, seal hunting, moose hunting, commercial and subsistence fishing, gathering berries, and a variety of other activities that highlights local Yup’ik environmental knowledge, practices, and ethics. Through firsthand examples of these experiences, this thesis attempts to explore what conservation means through a Yup’ik cultural lens. Documenting Yup’ik traditional knowledge offers an opportunity to shine a light on the stewardship of local people’s relationship with their traditional lands. The importance of maintaining direct relationships with the natural world, eating Native foods, and passing on hunting and gathering skills to future generations help develop the narrative of my analysis. In many ways, the cultural heritage of the Yup’ik people are embodied in such practices, providing a direct link between nature and culture. vi Table of Contents Signature Page ............................................................................................................ ii Title Page.................................................................................................................... iii Abstract ........................................................................................................................ v Table of Contents........................................................................................................ vi List of Figures ............................................................................................................. ix List of Tables ................................................................................................................ x List of Appendices ....................................................................................................... x Acknowledgements..................................................................................................... xi Chapter 1: Introduction............................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introducing Key Research Participants ................................................... 2 1.2 Outline of the Thesis ................................................................................. 3 Chapter 2: Theoretical Background ........................................................................... 5 2.1 Cultural Ecology ......................................................................................... 5 2.2 Human Ecology......................................................................................... 6 2.3 Western and Euro-American Nature vs. Culture .................................... 7 2.4 Local Knowledge, Traditional Knowledge, and Indigenous Knowledge.. ......................................................................................................................... 10 2.4.1 Local Knowledge ................................................................................... 11 2.4.2 Traditional Knowledge......................................................................... 12 2.4.3 Indigenous Knowledge......................................................................... 12 2.5 Yup’ik Worldview..................................................................................... 16 Chapter 3: Research Methodology ........................................................................... 19 3.1 Ethnographic Approach........................................................................... 19 3.2 Why Kotlik?.............................................................................................. 21 3.3 On Language............................................................................................ 22 Chapter 4: An Overview of the Yukon River Delta................................................. 25 4.1 Yukon River Delta Overview .................................................................. 25 4.2 Kotlik (Qerrullik) Overview ................................................................... 28 vii 4.3 The Yup’ik People of Western Alaska .................................................... 31 Chapter 5: Documenting Yup’ik Subsistence Practices ......................................... 35 5.1.1 Beluga Whale Hunting Ethnographic Description............................. 35 5.1.2 Beluga Whale Hunting Overview ........................................................ 38 5.1.3 Beluga Whale Hunting Summary........................................................ 45 5.2 Seal Hunting Ethnographic Description ............................................... 47 5.2.2 An Overview and Description of Seal Hunting Practices.................. 50 5.2.2.1 Bearded Seal (Erignathus barbatus nauticus) or Maklak ............ 50 5.2.2.2 Ringed Seal (Phoca hispida) or Nayiq............................................. 51 5.2.2.3 Seal Hunting Methods and Hunting Equipment............................ 53 5.2.3 Seal Hunting Summary........................................................................ 56 5.3.1 Gathering Wild Berries Ethnographic Description............................ 59 5.3.2 Gathering Wild Berries Overview ....................................................... 61 5.3.3 Gathering Wild Berries Summary....................................................... 63 5.4.1 Yup’ik Traditional Medicine Overview ............................................... 65 5.4.2 Wormwood (Artemisia sp.) or Caiggluk............................................ 66 5.4.3 Labrador tea (Ledum decumbens) or Ayuq....................................... 67 5.4.4 Willow (Salix spp.) or Uqviaq............................................................. 68 5.4.5 Yup’ik Traditional Medicine Summary .............................................. 69 5.5.1 Yukon Fishing Ethnographic Description ........................................... 71 5.5.2 Yukon Fishing Overview ...................................................................... 73 5.5.3 Yukon Fishing Summary ..................................................................... 77 5.6.1 Moose Ethnographic Description....................................................... 80 5.6.2 Moose Hunting Overview .................................................................... 81 5.6.3 Moose Hunting Summary ................................................................... 82 5.7.1 The Influence of Rising Beaver Populations....................................... 83 5.8.1 Ethnographic Description of Steam Bathing in Kotlik...................... 86 5.8.2 Steam Bathing Overview ..................................................................... 89 5.8.3 Steam Bathing and Yup’ik Ecological Knowledge ............................. 90 5.8.4 Steam Bathing Summary..................................................................... 93 viii Chapter 6: Discussion and Conclusion ................................................................... 95 6.1 Discussion................................................................................................ 95 6.1.1 Maintaining Social Connections.......................................................... 96 6.1.2 Training the Youth ............................................................................... 98 6.1.3 Subsistence Hunting Practices as Reinforcing Yup’ik Identity ...... 103 6.1.4 Eating Native Foods............................................................................ 105 6.2. Conclusion............................................................................................. 107 Table ......................................................................................................................... 110 References ................................................................................................................. 111 Appendix .................................................................................................................. 118 ix List of Figures Page Figure 4.1 The Yukon River delta landscape........................................................... 25 Figure 4.2 Kotlik, Alaska (Qerrullik in Yugtun) ..................................................... 28 Figure 5.1 A Beluga whale is brought to shore.......................................................