File:In the Alaskan wilderness (1917) (14775048214).jpg

Identifier: inalaskanwildern00gord (find matches)
Title: In the Alaskan wilderness
Year: 1917 (1910s)
Authors: Gordon, G. B. (George Byron), 1870-1927
Subjects: Eskimo languages Alaska -- Description and travel
Publisher: Philadelphia : The John C. Winston Company
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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at the Kuskwog-amiut are remarkably quick to learn butvery reluctant to give up their ancient customsand habits of life. They were especially dis-turbed because these simple and primitive peopleinsisted on performing every winter their cus-tomary dances, recitals and dramatic representa-tions. All this the missionaries objected to andtried to suppress, and by their methods of inter-ference had given great offense, as we soon learnedfrom the natives themselves. At first the Eskimowere naturally suspicious of our interest, butthey were quick to understand our good inten-tions and to respond. When they realized thatwe sympathized with them in their desire to keepup the old traditions, they stated their case andpresented their argument with the utmost clear-ness and logic. Nothing could have been moreintelligent than the way in which they defendedtheir time-honored customs which to them meantso much. They showed great intelligence andfairness in their attitude towards the missionaries,132
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whom they regarded in a sense as their guestsand whom they acknowledged to be good men.On their own part they claimed the right to livein harmony among themselves and to promotetheir own happiness as their fathers had done andaccording to their own customs, for which theyfeel a natural respect and veneration. We, of course, did not see any of the dancesor other performances because they take place inthe winter only, but we had them described tous. They are much too long and elaborate to begiven here, but I may say that they are in thenature of festivals which often last several days.The village that gives the performance invitesall the neighboring villages and even villages atgreat distances are included in the invitationsthat are sent out. There is a great deal of inter-change of ideas and experiences, as well as ofcommodities. There is much feasting and theceremonies and dances are performed in strictconformity with a well established usage and aregoverned by rules of long standing.

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