The Dall Sheep Dinner Guest Iñupiaq Narratives of Northwest Alaska

The rich storytelling tradition of the I¤upiaq Eskimos of Alaska is showcased in this remarkable collection of over eighty stories. Meticulously compiled from six villages in Northwest Alaska between 1966 and 1987, the stories are presented as part of a living tradition, complete with biographies, photos, and introductory remarks by Native storytellers. Each story provides insight into I¤upiaq worldview, human-animal relationships, and the organization of family life. The Dall Sheep Dinner Guest includes a new version of the Qayaq cycle, one of the best-known legends from the region, as well as epics such as "The Fast Runner." A major contribution to the Native literature of Alaska, this collection includes two introductory essays by Wanni W. Anderson that provide historical background and a foundation for understanding I¤upiaq exclamations, gender, age, and regional differences, and the narrative context of storytelling. Stories include: The Qayaq Cycle by Nora Norton The Last War With the Indians by Wesley Woods The Orphan With No Clothes by Emma Skin The Goose Maiden by Nora Norton The Girl Who Had No Wish to Marry by Willie Goodwin, Sr. Raven Who Brought Back the Land by Robert Cleveland How the Caribou Lost Their Teeth by Nora Norton