Whales+in+Yup'ik+Folklore

Introduction:
Whales are very important to the Yup'ik way of life. Their blubber, or fat, can be refined to make oil. Their meat can feed many hungry people.

==Folktale: The Raven and the Whale==

Once, as Raven flew over the ocean he spotted a dead whale floating in the water. He was hungry, so he flew down and crawled inside the whale's blowhole to eat to his content. While he was inside, however, the whale washed up on shore and turned upside down onto its blowhole trapping Raven inside.

Nearby where the whale had washed ashore there was a village. All the people of that village were excited when they saw the whale and they cheered that now they would have food for the winter. As they were cutting up the whale raven heard them outside so he called out to them to cut a hole in the top of the whale. Confused by the strange voice coming from inside the whale the people decided they’d best do what it asked lest they be cursed by it. Once they had cut the hole in the whale Raven flew out so fast all they saw was a black blur streaking up into the sky.

Later after they had finished carving up the whale and had hung it to render its oil and to dry for winter, Raven came to the village in the form of a wise old man. Raven acted surprised to see the whale meat saying he thought it was cursed. He asked the people if they’d heard a voice coming out of the whale asking them to cut a hole in the top of the whale. Surprised that he knew this they asked him what it meant. He told them that there had been evil spirits in the whale which they had released and which now would curse their village. Afraid the people fled the village and so Raven was able to spend that winter going from hut to hut stealing their food.

Gallery of Whale Masks:

 * [[image:http://media-cache-ec7.pinterest.com/192x/4c/ce/2c/4cce2c577ee91e014495a4f22ae923ee.jpg]] || [[image:http://www.lessing-photo.com/p2/300402/30040216.jpg]] ||

How To Draw An Orca Whale:
media type="custom" key="22673902" Having trouble view the drawing tutorial? Try watching it here.

Step 2: Paint the Water
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Step 3: Paint the Whale
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Learn more about Whales in Folklore and Mythology

Go back to Alaskan Wildlife Book (Intermediate)

@http://zeluna.net/yupik-folktales-ravenandthewhale.html
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