Religion and Death

Traditional Yup'ik mask at the Cultural Center

 Atmautluak is home to two churches, and a traditional belief system that is not talked about. On one side of the village is the Moravian church building with a bell that will ring when its church members are called. All tundra villages, including Bethel have a Moravian following. There are pews to sit in, hymnals to follow along with when the service is in English, but it is usually in Yu'pik.

  On the other side of the village is the Russian Orthodox church. It had a traveling Father, so meeting times varied. But, just recently, a Father was hired from a close by village. Bethel also has a beautifully decorated Russian Orthodox church. There are no pews used by this group. Men stand on one side, women on the other. The holy items are hidden behind doors that will open during certain times of the service, then are closed again. Incense, candles and the repeating of scriptures is most meditative.

There are two cemeteries in the village. This one is near the airstrip. Both religious groups are buried out here. This one is very wet and boggy. The other is downriver and on much higher ground.

 Old grave sites on the coast have been rummaged through looking for artifacts to sell. Traditionally, those that passed on had their personal items placed on top of their grave site. Women had pots, sewing tools, and beads. Men had their weapons; harpoons, knives, and guns.

 Traditional religious practices had a shaman and a belief system that all all in the universe had an Inua. Typical of any Native American religion, everything had this spirit and was to be treated with respect in order for the universe to "work" correctly. Stories were shared among the men in the gasgak, the men's house, while women lived in separate housings. When the missionaries arrived in the 1800's many of the Yup'ik practices were discouraged. Dancing being one of them.

 When Andrew died of stomach cancer this fall, his body was flown into Anchorage for an autopsy. This is typical of anyone that dies in this region. When the body returns to the village all events are canceled. We hear a lot of, "no balls bouncing, no dancing" when a body returns. Depending on weather and conditions for digging the grave, family and community will sit with the body for two to three days before burial. The funeral service takes place in the church, there is a grave side service, and people follow the family back to the house for a feast. 40 days later, another feast takes place. Children born during this time are named after the deceased. This ties the community together as the child will have a special connection with the deceased's family, even getting presents on the deceased's birthday.