West-Central Yupik Eskimo in United States

The West-Central Yupik Eskimo have only been reported in United States
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
More extensive map at peoplegroups.info

Introduction / History

The Yupiks are the main cluster of indigenous groups in Alaska. They are divided into subgroups, one of which is the West-Central Yupik Eskimo. They probably have their origins from Siberian peoples who migrated south and east thousands of years ago. They are unique among North American native peoples in that they name newborns after whomever died most recently.

Spring and summer were times when they were able to catch salmon and seals for food and clothes. Men and women had separate houses where adults would teach the children survival skills. For the men that meant hunting and fishing skills. Girls were taught how to weave, sew, tan hides and how to dry and cook foods. Boys stayed with their mothers until they were five before they joined the men’s quarters.

There was a 3-6 week period where boys would teach girls the survival skills they learned from the men.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Some of the West-Central Yupik Eskimo have retained their traditional lifestyle in Alaska. Others have joined White Americans in a very different lifestyle.


What Are Their Beliefs?

West-Central Yupik Eskimos believe that nothing in the universe dies out, but instead it is recycled or reincarnated. That might be why they name newborns after someone who just died. They also have shamans who are religious and healing specialists.

Early missionaries regarded the shamans as adversaries. Shamans stood in the way of Christianization. As time passed, more Yupik Eskimo people became Christian. Today about half identify as Christian.


What Are Their Needs?

Like people everywhere, the West-Central Yupik Eskimo people need a Christ-centered faith. It is easy for all Christians to put their hope and identity in an institution or a religious system instead of the eternal savior.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to raise up some to produce culturally appropriate worship music for the West-Central Yupik Eskimo people.

Pray for the Lord to bless the West-Central Yupik Eskimo people both spiritually and economically.

Pray for disciples who will make more disciples.


Scripture Prayers for the Eskimo, West-Central Yupik in United States.


References

https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/central-yupik-eskimos

https://www.uaf.edu/anlc/languages-move/centralakyupik.php

https://www.uaf.edu/anla/collections/cayupik/list/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yupik_peoples


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Eskimo, West-Central Yupik
People Name in Country Eskimo, West-Central Yupik
Natural Name West-Central Yupik Eskimo
Alternate Names Central Yupik; Eskimo; West Alaskan Eskimo
Population this Country 26,000
Population all Countries 26,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 2
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 15912
ROP3 Code 110751
Country United States
Region America, North and Caribbean
Continent North America
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Alaska: Delta area, Nunivak Island, Unalakleet to Bristol Bay coast to Unalakleet on Norton Sound; inland along Kuskokwim, Nushagak, and Yukon rivers; Chevak (Cup’ik dialect).   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country United States
Region America, North and Caribbean
Continent North America
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Alaska: Delta area, Nunivak Island, Unalakleet to Bristol Bay coast to Unalakleet on Norton Sound; inland along Kuskokwim, Nushagak, and Yukon rivers; Chevak (Cup’ik dialect)..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Primary Religion: Christianity
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 2.00 %)
50.00 %
Ethnic Religions
40.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
10.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Yupik, Central (26,000 speakers)
Language Code esu   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Yupik, Central (26,000 speakers)
Language Code esu   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Yupik, Central

Primary Language:  Yupik, Central

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1915-1987)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1956)
Bible-Complete Yes  (2012-2015)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Yupik, Central YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Yupik, Central YouVersion Bibles
Map Source U.S. Census Bureau  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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