Tengautuli Atkuk / The Flying Parka
The Meaning and Making of Parkas in Southwest Alaska
Ann Fienup-Riordan author Marie Meade author Alice Rearden author
Format:Paperback
Publisher:University of Washington Press
Published:10th Oct '23
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
A unique collaboration celebrating the importance of parkas in Yup'ik material culture
Parkas are part of a living tradition in southwest Alaska. Some are ornamented with tassels, beads, and elaborate stitching; others are simpler fur or birdskin garments. Although fewer fancy parkas are sewn today, many people still wear those made for them by their mothers and other relatives.
"Parka-making" conversations touch on every aspect of Yup'ik life—child rearing, marriage partnerships, ceremonies and masked dances, traditional oral instructions, and much more. In The Flying Parka, more than fifty Yup'ik men and women share sewing techniques and "parka stories," speaking about the significance of different styles, the details of family designs, and the variety of materials used in creating these functional and culturally important garments.
Based on nearly two decades of conversations with Yup'ik sewing groups and visits to the National Museum of the American Indian and the National Museum of Natural History, this volume documents the social importance of parkas, the intricacies of their construction, and their exceptional beauty. It features over 170 historical and contemporary images, full bilingual versions of six parka stories, and a glossary in Yup'ik and English.
"Few can hope to replicate the standard set by anthropologist Ann Fienup-Riordan and her longtime collaborators, Yup'ik language experts Alice Rearden and Marie Meade . . . This book guides the reader in study of parka traditions of the past as well as a clear view of the parkas yet to come."
* Alaska History Journal *"[R]ichly detailed and lavishly illustrated . . . [A] gift to Alaska that offers us previously little-known cultural understanding of the place we live."
* Anchorage Daily News *"An intimate knowledge of this region permeates the rich collection of images from international, local, and private collections, many including individual names. Construction procedures are explained with photographs and clearly drawn stitching details, and enriched with individual stories, providing an exceptional holistic understanding of the meaning and significance of these parkas. . . . [A] most valuable reference. Yupiit interested in reviving traditional parka sewing, people interested in learning Yup'ik traditional knowledge, cultural and northern scholars, and circumpolar Inuit scholars are just a few of the people who will look forward to having this book in their collection."
* Alaska Journal of Anthropology *"This book highlights everything parka related from women's labor of love to social interactions, folklore, songs, practical steps showing diagrams of sewing stiches, to Yup'ik language words relevant to parka-making in the glossary. . . . From cover to cover, Tengautuli Atkuk/The Flying Parka has chapters that build, allowing readers to better understand parka-making, museums, and Yup'ik language through storytelling. Conversely, due to the abundant visually stunning archival photographs, color photographs, maps, and diagrams, the book can be picked up and flipped through to find engaging photos and text on a piecemeal basis."
* Western Historical Quarter- Long-listed for R. L. Shep Ethnic Textiles Book Award 2024 (United States)
ISBN: 9780295751740
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 771g
320 pages