The Dance Festivals of the Alaskan EskimoHawkes, Ernest William
Religion
The Dance Festivals of the Alaskan Eskimo
Hawkes, Ernest William
Eskimos -- Alaska; Indian dance -- North America
[19] The shapes of animals are thought by the Alaskan Eskimo to be
like those of men, and in ancient times animals possessed the power of
changing their forms at will. This was effected by pulling the muzzle
up over the head to become people or of pulling it down again to
regain their original form.
[20] The first child born in the village after his death becomes the
deceased's namesake. However, if born in camp, its mother gives it the
name of the first natural object to catch her eye.
[21] Childless people provide for this contingency by adoption.
[22] One who has made himself odious to his fellow villagers is
purposely neglected in the feasts to the dead.
THE ANNUAL FEAST, AIL['=I]GI
The Annual Feast to the Dead is a temporary arrangement, whereby the
shades of those recently departed are sustained until the advent of
the Great Feast to the Dead. The essence of the offerings of food and
drink are supposed to satisfy the wants of the dead until they can be
properly honored in the Great Festival. In the latter event the
relative discharges all his social obligations to the dead, and the
ghost is furnished with such an abundance that it can never want in
the world below.
The makers of the feast (n['ae]skut) are the nearest relatives of those
who have died during the past year, together with those villagers who
have not yet given the greater festival. The day before the festival
the male mourners go to the village burial ground and plant a newly
made stake before the grave of their relative. The stake is surmounted
by a wooden model of a spear, if the deceased be a man; or a wooden
dish, if it be a woman. The totem mark of the deceased is carved upon
it. In the north simple models of kayak paddles suffice. The sticks
are a notification to the spirits in the land of the dead that the
time for the festival is at hand. Accordingly they journey to the
grave boxes, where they wait, ready to enter the kasgi at the song of
invocation. To light their way from the other world lamps are brought
into the kasgi and set before their accustomed places. When the
invitation song arises they leave their graves and take their places
in the fireplace (Kenethluk), where they enjoy the songs and dances,
and receive the offerings of their relatives.
The Annual Feast is celebrated after the Bladder Feast during the
December moon. By the Yukon tribes it is repeated just before the
opening of spring. During the day of the festival a taboo is placed on
all work in the village, particularly that done with any sharp pointed
tool which might wound some wandering ghost and bring retribution on
the people.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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