A couple of weeks ago, we had an "artist in residence" here in Kwethluk. Stephen Blanchett, member of Alaskan musical group, Pamyua ("again"), came to our school to teach Yupik dance. Pamyua is definitely worth looking up on Youtube if you're interested in hearing what "tribal funk" is all about. Stephen described himself as a You-frickin-American (Yufrican American) because he is half Yupik American and half African American. He certainly got the attention of my Theatre Arts students as he taught them motions to a traditional Yupik tale, The Raven. Here is the story along with some pics of my students acting it out...

Long ago, Squirrel was picking berries. On the way home, he saw Raven blocking his way in. To get home, Squirrel had to sing a song. The first time he sang. Raven didn't like it. The second time he danced. He tried to run in, but was too slow. The third time he ran through Raven’s legs, grabbing his bucket, and closed the door. Raven flew up to the top of Squirrel's house and looked through a hole. Squirrel was lying on the floor. He was so fat the fat was dripping off him. Raven sang, wanting to eat him.


Squirrel sang back, “Come on in.”

The hole was too small. Raven could only get his head through. Raven tried again and couldn’t make it. He flew off.

Raven saw a big hill where one side was smooth and the other side was rough. He wanted to go sliding down the hill. As he slid, he sang a song. At the bottom, his leg was broken. He put a splint on his broken leg. He slid down again, singing a song. This time, he broke his other leg. He slid down a third time singing a song. This time, he broke one of his wings. He slid down a fourth time, singing a song, and this time he broke his other wing. With two broken legs and two broken wings, all in splints, he flopped back up to the top. He slid down the fifth time, singing a song. At the bottom, Raven broke his neck... and died.

The end.