The Eskimo Songs of Northwestern Alaska

• Published in: ARCTIC
• Main Author: Johnston, Thomas F.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: The Arctic Institute of North America 1976
• Subjects: Copper Eskimos; Point Hope; Arctic; eskimo*; Alaska
• Online Access: https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/view/65835

The findings are presented of ethnomusicological research in several Eskimo communities of northwestern Alaska where traditional music is still popular. In some of these communities, particularly at Point Hope, musical ceremonialism is considerable. There are three main classes of songs in use: game songs, songs-within-stories and dance songs. Song styles and dance styles differ from those of the Eskimo communities of southwestern Alaska, reflecting not only the ceremonialism formerly associated with whaling in the north, but also language differences.