When Our Words Return: Writing, Reading, and Remembering Oral Traditions from Alaska and the Yukon

The title to this interdisciplinary collection draws on the Yupik Eskimobelief that seals, fish, and other game are precious gifts that, whentreated with respect and care, will return to be hunted again. Just so, if oral traditions are told faithfully and respectfully, they willreturn to benefit future generations. The contributors to this volumeare concerned with the interpretation and representation of oralnarrative and how it is shaped by its audience and the time, place, andcultural context of the narration. Thus, oral traditions are understoodas a series of dialogues between tradition bearers and their listeners, including those who record, write, and interpre