When Our Words Return

Writing, Hearing, and Remembering Oral Traditions of Alaska and the Yukon
edited by Phyllis Morrow and William Schneider

Details: Imprint: Utah State University Press

University Press of Colorado - When Our Words Return

Paperback Price: $22.95

The title to this interdisciplinary collection draws on the Yupik Eskimo belief that seals, fish, and other game are precious gifts that, when treated with respect and care, will return to be hunted again. Just so, if oral traditions are told faithfully and respectfully, they will return to benefit future generations. The contributors to When Our Words Return are concerned with the interpretation and representation of oral narrative and how it is shaped by its audience and the time, place, and cultural context of the narration. Thus, oral traditions are understood as a series of dialogues between tradition bearers and their listeners, including those who record, write, and interpret.

Phyllis Morrow

Phyllis Morrow is an associate professor of anthropology at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. Her research interests include Alaska Native folklore, translation, and collaboration.

William Schneider

William Schneider is curator of oral history and associate in anthropology at the Rasmuson Library, University of Alaska Fairbanks, where he introduced oral history "jukeboxes," innovative interactive, multimedia computer files that present and cross-reference audio oral history and related photos and maps. Among other works, his publications include, as editor, Kusiq: An Eskimo Life History from the Arctic Coast of Alaska and, with Phyllis Morrow, When Our Words Return: Writing, Hearing, and Remembering Oral Traditions of Alaska and the Yukon.
Paperback ISBN: 978-0-87421-195-5
Publication Year: 1995
Pages: 264
Discount Type: Short
ECommerce Code: 978-0-87421-195-5
Member Institution Access : Mountain Scholar