The carrier of seaweed

Source
The Jessup North Pacific Expedition
edited by Franz Boas
Memoir of the American Museum
of Natural History – New York
Volume VIII
3. The Eskimo of Siberia
by Waldemar Bogoras
Leiden & New York, 1913

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► Themes of the story

Sacred Spaces: The tiny sleeping room, accessible only through a symbolic act, can be seen as a sacred or special space within their home.

Trials and Tribulations: The boy’s journey to gather seaweed and the subsequent challenge of bringing it into the small sleeping room represent obstacles they overcome.

Family Dynamics: The relationship between the grandmother and her grandson is central to the story, showcasing their bond and cooperation.

► From the same Region or People

• North Asia
  • Yupik Lore

Learn more about the Yupik peoples

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Told by Nipe’wgi, an Asiatic Eskimo man, in the village of Uni’sak, at Indian Point, May, 1901.

An old woman lived with her grandson, a young orphan. One day the lad walked along the shore, gathering edible seaweed. He sang, “I am walking along the shore, gathering seaweed. I will put it into the fold of my shirt, and I will carry it home.” He gathered a heavy load of it and carried it home. Then he entered into the outer house, and called to the old woman,

“Halloo!” — “Ho!” — “How shall I bring it into the sleeping-room?” The sleeping-room was ever so small. “I do not know. Come in as through the eye of a needle!” — “Which needle’s eye?” — “This one.”

She thrust a needle out of the sleeping-room, and he passed through along with his load. So skilful are the people of Uni’sak.

That is all.