Old traditions

by Peter Twitchell

When I was a boy growing up in the 1950s in Bethel, Alaska whenever a loved one passed on a family member of the deceased burned the clothes of their loved ones. Such was the case when my Dad had an accident and passed on in 1965.

Mom assigned her younger sister Mollia Woods to burn my dad’s articles of clothing in a 55 gallon drum. Burning the clothes of passed loved ones – the traditional belief that the spirits of the deceased didn’t want to hang around but go on their journey into the spirit world.

Burning the clothes of loved ones is a traditional belief, of setting the Spirits of loved ones free to go on their journey to the Spirit World, rather than keep them here among the living.

At the age of seven in my preteen years I didn’t really understand this: that our spirit, since our conception and once we pass on, wants to move and continue on its journey into the Spirit World.

Now in my elder years, I am beginning to understand this traditional practice is to respectfully honor the wishes of those who passed on.

Our ancients, our ancestors understood that this was the wish of every indigenous Native, and honored it.

It amazes me that the beliefs of our ancestors was powerful to continue to carry on the belief for generations and model it for the younger generations to follow.

Since time immemorial this is the living tradition still practiced today by our Yup’ik people.

I stayed with my Auntie Mollia that day she burned my Dad’s articles of clothing one at a time in a 55 gallon drum.

That day at the age of 15 I stood there wondering why Mom had assigned her sister to burn my Dad’s clothes.

Mom stayed home baking and cooking my Dad’s favorite native foods to share with those who came to pay their respects to Mom.

Today after coming to full understanding of this traditional practice I am grateful and appreciate my Auntie Mollia.

It was also a belief that those who ate and enjoyed Dad’s favorite foods would keep him satisfied and strong for his journey to the spirit world.

There was a traditional practice long before I came along whereby families would put hunting implements like spears, arrows, bows, and wooden bowls on the gravesite of the loved ones who passed on to use in the spirit world. I don’t see that practiced today. But when I was a boy we were always told never to remove anything from the gravesite of our people, or they would be without in the spirit world.

I thought it was important enough to share this today in my article, it might come as a surprise to some of our younger generations.