Learning the Yup’ik way of navigation: Studying time, position, and direction

• Main Author: Claudette Engblom-bradley
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2006
• Subjects: Yukon; Kuskokwim; Tundra; Alaska
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.646.2860; http://nasgem.rpi.edu/files/1441/

This paper is about the use of mathematics in Yup’ik navigation strategies, as practiced by Fred George of Akiachak, Alaska. Fred George travels by snow machine over snow covered frozen lakes and tundra in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. In day light, he uses the position of the sun and time of day to determine his direction. On clear nights, he uses the position of the Big Dipper and time of night to determine his direction. In addition, he observes the frozen grass, isolated trees, and/or snow waves to reinforce his direction. The sun, Big Dipper, frozen grass, isolated trees, and snow waves function as natural compasses for Fred George. Originally mentored by his father when he was a boy, Fred has continued to develop his navigational skills on the tundra for over 60 years to hunt and fish for his family of eight children and many grandchildren. He passionately wants to pass his navigational skills on to the young people in Akiachak. He knows young people are no longer being mentored by their families to navigate. Yet many