Alutiiq-Yupik mythology

Alutiiq-Yupik mythology

The mythology Alutiiq-Yupik include the following Amerindian peoples: Yupik, Yupiit, Yup'ik, Alutiiq.

The Yupiks (Yup'ik in the singular and Yupiit plural in the Yupik language) are the natives who live on the southern half of the west coast of Alaska, especially on the Yukon-Kuskokwim delta and along the Kuskokwim River (Central Alaskan Yupiks), in southern Alaska (the Alutiiqs) and on the eastern tip of Russia and St. Lawrence Island south of the Bering Strait (the Yupiks of Siberia). The Yupiit are related to the Inuit and are members of the Inuit Circumpolar Council.

The Yupiit of central Alaska are by far the most numerous Yupik group. Those who live on Nunivak Island are called Cup'ig ; those who live in the village of Shevak are called Cup'ik.

Due to confusion by Russian explorers in the 1800s, some Yupiit living along the border with their relatives Aleuts were called Aleuts, or Alutiiq in Yupik. This denomination remained in force. The Yupiit called themselves that. The term consists of Yuk ("Person") and the suffix -pik (" true ").