In Kuku’lik, a tyrannical strongman stole food and killed those who resisted. After he seized a man’s seal meat, the man’s wife confronted him, broke his arms, and spared his life in exchange for his wealth. Keeping his defeat secret, she enriched her family, becoming ancestors to the prosperous Kuva’r lineage. Her bravery brought justice and prosperity.
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
► Themes of the story
Revenge and Justice: The woman’s actions serve as retribution against the tyrant, restoring order and fairness to her community.
Cunning and Deception: By keeping the strongman’s defeat a secret and negotiating for his wealth, the woman uses wit to achieve her goals.
Family Dynamics: The narrative highlights the woman’s efforts to protect and provide for her family, leading to the prosperity of her descendants.
► From the same Region or People
Learn more about the Yupik peoples
Told by Milu’tarak, an Asiatic Eskimo man, on St. Lawrence Island, May, 1901.
In the village of Kuku’lik [now wholly starved out, as well as several other villages] there was a man stronger than all his neighbors. Therefore he took the food from everybody by force. If a man had killed a walrus and hauled home a sled filled with meat, the strong man would take possession of the hauling-strap, and take home sled and all.
The people were afraid to show resistance. He would kill those who were disobedient. One day a man killed a thong-seal, and was taking the meat home. The strong man met him on the way.
“Oh, you have killed a thong-seal?” — “Yes, I have.” The Doer of Violence put his foot upon the runner of the sled. “What are you doing?” — “Be quiet, or I shall kill you!”
► Continue reading…
He left the sled and came to his wife. “And where is the meat?” — “In truth, I was bringing it, but the Doer of Violence took it away from me.” — “But why didn’t you defend it? Our little children have no food.” — “He threatened to kill me.” — “Ah, but I will go and get back the meat!” She went, and soon overtook the strong man, who was hauling the meat. “You there! Why have you taken the food from my little children?” — “Go away!” — “Give me my meat.” — “Let me alone, or I shall kill you!” — “Will you?” She caught him by the arms a little below the shoulders, and broke the humerus of either arm. “Ah, ah, ah! Please do not tell our neighbors! They will kill me. Do not bring such shame upon me! I have plenty of meat and peltries. I will give you everything. Let me escape with just my bare life!” And, indeed, she did not tell what had happened. He gave her everything he had, and they lived in wealth and joy. From that stock came the family of Kuva’r [a rich Eskimo of the village of Chibu’kak, on St. Lawence Island. There was another Kuva’r much richer, in the village Uni’sak, on the mainland of Asia.]
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