Mystery Dances

On more than one occasion, I volunteered to make breakfast for our "party of 18." Husband usually is in charge of breakfast at our house, so I don't usually get to try my hand at pancakes and waffles. I've gotta tell you, it was really fun making that many pancakes in one skillet over a camp stove. What I always noticed was the polite appreciation always given to the cooks. It did make us feel good.

As our guide, Stevie is charged with schooling us on the history, traditions, and ways of the people who inhabited Point Hope. Many mornings during breakfast while we all chowed down, Stevie would share his knowledge. He told us of two traditional dances, unique to Point Hope that have a curious history. He explained the dances in detail, but I can't share them with you, for it is bad luck to do so. The dances can only be performed and/or described in the village of Point Hope. I don't try to explain how the spirit in the dances knows, but the consequences of breaking with this tradition have been disastrous.

As the story goes, during Kiviiq a few years ago, Point Hopers performed one of the dances during the festival, in Barrow. This was against the advice and counsel of the elders. That year, no whales were caught in the village. In fact, the ice stayed onshore longer than usual and in one blustery day blew off the coast and didn't return. (The ice is integral to the hunt as it provides a surface upon which the hunters set up base camp for hunting.) No seals or walrus were caught either...no ice=no animals. Nowhere for them to alight, or hang out during their migratory swims. Compounding the lack of hunting, was the lack of gathering. That year there were no berries to pick, either.

Just in 2008, another incident occurred that served as a reminder to keep the traditional songs and dances within the village. A well-known photographer was contacted by one of the elders and asked to document the traditional songs and dances (the two in particular that I've been writing about). The elder was afraid too few Point Hopers would remember and/or carry on the dances once he and his cohorts were no longer alive. The photographer showed up and did as he was asked. Everywhere he went, people scolded him and told him documenting the dances was not allowed.
However, he did as he was consigned to do...not making any new friends along the way, I might add. Part of the deal, according to Stevie, was for the documentation to reside in Point Hope as archives...at the library and at the qualgi (gathering house). Apparently the photographer misunderstood that directive.

Two weeks before whale season was to begin, an article describing the dances in detail accompanied by pictures appeared in the regional paper. Point Hopers were devastated and felt betrayed, but that wasn't the worst of the offense.

As whale season began, the villagers were again reminded of the power of the spirit of those two traditional dances. Days and weeks passed without a single bowhead whale catch. At one point, a lone hunter did manage to catch 3 belugas. Since he was by himself, he secured the whales by the ice and went to get help. When he returned, the whales were gone. That spring, no other whales were caught, no seal, no walrus, and no berries to pick...AGAIN! So, you can see why the Point Hopers take this stand against performing or describing their traditional dances outside of the village very seriously. I also take it seriously, so I'm sorry I can't provide the details to you, but I can say they are intricate and special dances and I hope someday to go to Point Hope during the Christmas festivities to see them performed.