Meaning in Mud: Yup'ik Eskimo Girls at Play

• Published in: Anthropology & Education Quarterly
• Main Authors: DeMarrais, Kathleen Bennett, Nelson, Patricia A., Baker, Jill H.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1992
• Subjects: eskimo*; Yup'ik
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1525/aeq.1992.23.2.05x1262n; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1525%2Faeq.1992.23.2.05x1262n; https://anthrosource.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1525/aeq.1992.23.2.05x1262n

This study describes storyknifing as played by one group of girls in a Yup'ik Eskimo village. We describe the utensils, symbols, and stories used in this activity as well as the historical role storyknifing has played in traditional Eskimo culture. We found that despite the Westernization of the culture, storyknifing in this village continues to provide a forum for young girls to learn both cultural and cognitive knowledge.