Deja vu on the Tundra: Selaviq-Inside

Once everyone walks in and finds a place to stand or sit (it can be tight!!) prayers and singing begin. Everyone is trying to face the wall that has an alter on it. Some words are in English, some in Yugtun. This can take awhile. The star continues to spin, and the banner (which had been lit with a small candle placed near the top) stays put until it is all over.

Eventually, everything stops, all find a seat, and the party begins!

Those in the community know to bring a bag, backpack, or a purse of some sort. The first to be passed out is the candy. Most people in the house get it, but some is specifically for the olders or youngers. I was given a large candy bar because I'm an elder. We all got Cracker Jacks!

Next, gift items may be passed out. Similar to a throwing party, women may get soap, hand cloths, combs, and men may get socks, razors, or water bottles. Babies may get bottles, or toys. Teens may get lotions, and bags.

Next, the feast begins. Akutaq is served to the adults, an Eskimo staple. Berries and fat are the traditional ingredients. Crisco has become a substitute and the berries most commonly used are the salmon and blackberries.

Then, soup is passed out to the adults; fish, fowl, or meat. The soup could be made up of whitefish or salmon, moose or caribou, or crane, swan or duck.

The children get their feast too. Typical was macaroni with red sauce and jello. Both of our girls did a great job with trying everything.

These photos of us were taken in the arctic entry. It was already too crowded to find a place inside.

This is the banner that gets used every year.

At this house, we made it into a room that wasn't very crowded. Elders get up and begin to move to the table to get tea/coffee, bread (atsaluk-fried bread), and salted fish which is usually salmon. This salted fish is just brined, not dried. Sometimes there can be dried moose, caribou and fish at the table.

As a place at the table opens up men begin to take their places, and eventually the women will go. At some point in time it is decided to move onto the next house. The banner and star are picked up, and a group moves on outside with others following.

Not so lucky in this room! It was very crowded. At least the girls and Bruce were able to lean against the wall. Sometimes one ends up in the middle with no wiggle room.