About
Iirgu is an elder from the Siberian Yupik village of Gambell on St. Lawrence Island. As two grandchildren listen, Iirgu recounts events in Gambell from the time the first missionaries arrived. His story is known as an ungipamsuk or true historical narrative. With ambivalent feelings, he describes more recent changes – how whaling practices have changed, how life has become easier, but also how younger generations are losing touch with the old ways.
Films in the Alaska Native Heritage Film series:
Note on Term "Eskimo":
The films in this series make use of the name "Eskimo." While once broadly applied, it is a perjorative term and considered offensive. While the inception of the word is a matter of debate, it is no longer used or applied in our film catalog. The context in which the term appears in this series is an acknowledged relic of a colonial past, presented in its original version. DER apologizes for any offense caused.
Indigenous Studies:
Regions:
Credits
Coming Soon
Learning Resources
From the Elders (Study Guide)
PDF