Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-11-01
An Island
WhereTheSed|
IS Sacred

<~OME people worship sacred monkeys. others defy
white rats but on a small island 700 miles north
~ Dutch Harbor and less than 100 miles to the west
the Alaskan mainland strange band OF Esklmos make
gods out of seals.
The place is called Nunivak Island and it is practically
unknown any scientists except the most curious and
explorers anthropoogsts and geographers
of whom is Miss Margaret Lants OF the American
Museum of Natural History.
interested aHthrepologist Lantis in the queer
of the aborgines that she spent nine months
among people and returned recently with vast
amount of hundreds of excellent photographs
She probably the first white woman that these Eskmos
entertained their island and is she who came
strange habit of seal worship that the natives
practice.
But that doesn't mean says the adventursome member
of the staff these beasts lead pampered
existence waited on by aborignes On the
contrary weren't there to be killed and eaten
there wouldn't any Estimos anyone else living as
we'll they do this faraway spot
why the Eskimo regards the seal sacred
provides him with many things Virtually all
the Eskimo islanders and comes from this sea
beast. kayak, small is made OF the
skin His hunters also made of seaskin
they wateproofed with seal oil His
parka sheds the foggy rain is made of the creatures
intestinal casing and the fancy personal pouch that goes
with him almost everywhere is cut from whole skin.
The Winter months are given by the Eskimo to
thorough preparations for the great hunting which
is Spring Actually the seal tracked down and killed
all year but Spring the time when the ice is just right
and the weather enough to lure the fippered
creatures from their hiding places
Everyone youngsters just above the toddlng
old play part in the preparations but
the important to all the religious rites that
go before the big hunt starts
These get off to big start-the time usually is De-
cemberand the ceremonies preceded by two weeks
period preparation during which hymns COM
posed feast dishes carved and ornamened
and brand clothes made for everyone
During ceremony the bones of the seattle only
part not by the natvesare buried in state Then
the badders of every caught during year-care
fully preserved against this very dayare brought into the
grown ceremonial house and hung from the roof,
The for this the belief that the seals souls rest
badders they entertained" for five
days with singing and fasting.
part of the ceremonies of the hunters dress
up weird masks made the skins heads Of other
Arctic animals and birds to play the part of the spirits
Of the seals.
On last evening of the big ceremonial holiday
several hundred badder taken from the roof and put
beneath the the The for this is the belief
the part the Nunvak islanders that thereby
Of the dead creatures will the seal villages under
the water and that there will be good hunting during the
next year.
When these prayers fasting ceremonies are over
the native hunters paint picture their personal pro-
ectve animals in sacred blue the side of their kayaks
This may be a cormorant gull a mink this
boat all except small hole
sits 90 need including
sixfoo-ong ice cutter and sled that will slide his
kayak the ice
Then he fastens his waterproof parka dons a
large, scored wooden hat painted lucky
and onamented with ivory whatnots and loads himself
down with dozens OF other amues all calculated bring
to his hapoon There is great rivalry among all
the hunters the title top man.
The seal really helps capture himself in a manner
speaking When the long and sharp spear harpoon
finds its mark whole seastn blown up with air acts as
float and keeps the stabbed animal diving to the
bottom.
1t is not Aerstand the reverence the aborgine
Nunivak feels for hesea While he makes use of such
other creatures sperm killer and whales sea
lions dogfish polar beafs eefaorants gis and any
birds he catch, it is the provide him
the greatest share Of his food clothing medicine
lubricants heating oil and seasoning whatever other
he eats Even his wndowpanes transparent
Of the which permit entrance Of light but
thoroughly wind and waterproof