Anne Fienup-Riordan, Alice Rearden, and Marie Meade have released their new book Tengautuli Atkuk / The Flying Parka: The Meaning and Making of Parkas in Southwest Alaska this past October.
“Parkas are 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,” says the publication. “ ‘Parka making’ conversations touch on every aspect of Yup’ik life – child rearing, marriage partnerships, ceremonies and masked dances, 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 beautiful, functional, and culturally important garments.”
This book features over 170 historical and contemporary images, full bilingual versions of six parka stories, and a glossary in Yup’ik and English.
Ann Fienup-Riordan is author of numerous books on the Native peoples of Alaska, including Ellavut/Our Yup’ik World and Weather: Contintuity and Change on the Bering Sea Coast, coauthored with Alice Rearden, who is primary translator for Calista Education and Culture. Yup’ik language expert Marie Meade has worked with the CEC team for many years and teaches classes in Yup’ik language and culture at the University of Alaska Anchorage.
The book is published by the University of Washington Press.
