Yup'ik Elders at the Ethnologisches Museum Berlin ― Fieldwork Turned On Its Head

In September 1997, eight Yup'ik elders travelled from their home in Alaska to spend three weeks at Berlin's ethnology museum, where they examined and commented on the nearly 2000 objects collected by the museum in the Arctic in the 19th century. This oversized volume (it's 9.25x12.25<">) is heavily illustrated with color plates of the objects and the visiting elders handling and discussing them. The Museum's collection is presented chronologically and thematically, reflecting the elders' visit and what type of objects they discussed each day, with a complete transcript of their discussion of the objects, how they were made, and when and how they are used. Published in association with Calista Elders Council in Bethel, Alaska. Annotation c2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Ann Fienup-Riordan is the author of numerous books on the Native peoples of Alaska, including The Living Tradition of Yup'ik Masks and Freeze Frame: Alaska Eskimos in the Movies, and has collaborated with Marie Meade on Ciuliamta Akluit / Things of Our Ancestors and Agayuliyararput / Our Way of Making Prayer.