Uk’suviat [UHK-su-waet] is Yugtun for “a Place Where they Winter”
Storyknife, January/February 2025 edition
Calista Education & Culture, Inc. (CEC) presents the Yup’ik Teaching Moment in our Storyknife newsletter. CECI highlights Yuuyaraq, the traditional/cultural way of being in our Region. The Yup’ik Teaching Moment is provided by Mark John, CEC Cultural Advisor and Calista Elder from Toksook Bay.
Uk’suviat [UHK-su-waet] translates from Yugtun to “a Place Where they Winter.”
Our ancestors moved around with the seasons to get the food and materials they need for clothing, shelter and tools. They also gathered the materials for hunting and fishing supplies.
In the late fall, extended families went to their winter homes. They called that place their uk’suviat [UHK-su-waet], “A place where they winter.” Those locations were chosen for the fish or animals that were available during the winter. Inland, places were chosen for the availability of blackfish, lush, whitefish, needlefish or pike. In others, it was moose or caribou that they hunted and survived on. For families along the coast, they hunted seals and fished for tomcod and smelt.
Our ancestors established camps for each season, using spring, summer, and fall to gather the resources they needed. Sometimes, they moved multiple times within a single season to access different necessities. When relocating, they carried only what was needed for the next camp. In some locations, they lived in sod houses that they repaired and maintained, while in others, they stayed in boats or simple temporary shelters. At times, extended families would split up, camping in different areas to harvest various resources more efficiently.
Uk’suviat was a place where they enjoyed the fruits of their seasonal harvest and had festivities. They performed their dances and different ceremonies in the qasgiq, community center and a place for men. They had many kalukat, or feeds, to share what they had. It was also a time when families prepared for the coming seasons by making hunting and fishing equipment and gear. All in all, uk’suviat was a place of leisure. They enjoyed the time together and had fun.
