Stories for Future Generations / Qulirat Qanemcit-llu Kinguvarcimalriit

Before it was written, this book was spoken. For ten winter days in 1977, the orator Paul Johnwidely respected as a dean of Yupik elders, and recognized for his tireless advocacy of Yupik language and traditionsheld an audience of Yupik students rapt at Nelson Island High School, in southwest Alaska. Hour after hour he spoke to the young people, sharing life experiences and Yupik narratives, never repeating a tale. Now, more than a quarter-century after Paul Johns extraordinary performance, Sophie Shields translations and Ann Fienup-Riordans editing have brought his words back to life, and to a new audience. This book records one elders attempt to create a moral universe for future generations through stories about the special knowledge of the Yupik people. Tales both authentically Yupik and marked by Paul Johns own unique innovations are presented in a bilingual edition, with Yupik and English text presented in facing pages. As Paul John says, In this whole world, whoever we are, if people speak using their own language, they will be presenting their identity and it will be their strength.