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Inupiaq
Values and
Bering Land Bridge National Preserve
Every
culture in the world has values that are deeply rooted. Values are
our standards, things that we regard as worthwhile and important.
They have existed in cultures for thousands of years. Like any culture
the Inupiat people have many values. These values are related to
traditional beliefs about "how one should be".
Inupiaq values are:
| Commitment
to the Family |
Spirituality |
| Obedience |
Honesty |
| Respecting
Others |
Respect
of Elders |
| Humility |
Humor |
| Pride
in Culture |
Reverence
Towards Nature |
| Responsibility |
Avoidance
of Conflict |
| Speaking
our Traditional Language |
Sharing |
| Love
of Children |
Patience |
| Hard
Work |
Cooperation |
| Open
Communication |
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When you
look at these values they are very similar to values of people from
other cultures.
One mission of the National
Park Service is to conserve and protect natural and cultural resources
for the enjoyment and use of future generations. How do these Inupiaq
values also ensure that resources are conserved for future generations?
What values would one have to help conserve resources? Although
these values relate to things that we do everyday, each value has
some relation to respecting the land and not being wasteful. When
looking at the Inupiaq values one can see how having some of the
values would help to conserve resources and take care of the land.
Eight of the nineteen
values are explained in the Sitnasuak Native Corporation Elders
Committee 1997 Subsistence Calendar:
Commitment to Family and Love of Children
- When you are committed to your family you want each member to
have the same opportunities or better opportunities to subsist on
the wildlife, fish, birds and plants that you did.
Obedience, Avoidance of Conflict and
Responsibility
- Understanding and following certain rules, regulations or taboos
about over-harvesting can ensure that resources are conserved. You
are responsible for your actions as a harvester of resources, which
may have lasting effects on many other people.
Respecting Others
- Respect others right to have resources available for their family
and for future generations.
Humility and Sharing
- Persons should be modest in their taking of resources, only take
what you need. If you do take more always try to share, never waste.
Pride in Culture and Speaking our Traditional
Language - Having
pride in one's culture can mean understanding how nature is involved
in your culture. In speaking your traditional language you keep
an important part of your culture alive.
Hard Work, Patience and Cooperation
- It takes hard work and patience to be an effective and responsible
harvester. It takes everyone in cooperation to help manage our resources.
Open Communication and Honesty
- People should work together in their communities, be open and
honest, in talking and conserving the resources in their area.
Respect for Elders
- Learn from your elders about how to take care of the land and
its resources.
Reverence Toward Nature
- Respecting the land and all animals will ensure that resources
are available in the future.
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