Also known as “seal parties,” the tradition brings women together to mark first catches and — more recently — other achievements as well.
iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-4986103/nx-s1-dd1b6725-0c5b-4e1c-a917-7ae2214c2f68" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">For generations, Yup'ik women have gathered for"throwing parties" in the coastal villages of Western Alaska to celebrate firsts .
Tom wanted to celebrate her daughter’s graduation and a few of her grandchildren’s more recent achievements. “This is for all my kids and my grandkids,” says Tom. “For all their first catches… everything, mosquitoes, flies, you name it,” she laughs. “One two, three,” they count in unison and then lean way out over the porch railing to fling fistfuls of goodies into the air. It all rains down on the crowd of women below. According to elders in Mertarvik, these women’s gatherings have been happening in Alaska’s Yup’ik region in the spring and fall for generations.
So, she stuffs canvas tote bags with larger items to hand out: not just the wooden spoons, but also measuring cups and mixing bowls.
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