The name literally means "Real People."  The are related to the Inuit natives.

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Traditional families still spend the late spring and summer in fish camp.  The cold winter months are spent in larger villages with many families.  Traditional families still harvest salmon and seal for subsistence.  

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According to certain sources the religious view of Yupik people is considered shamanism.  Their belief is that both benign and harmful spirits cause the people problems and illnesses.  Certain animals (especially birds) are still considered sacred.  

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The use of rituals and dances are thought to bring good luck for hunts and to keep in favor of the spirits.

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Illnesses are also thought to be brought on by a person's improper thoughts or deeds or those actions thought to be shunned in the spirit world.  Spirit helpers are often recruited to drive out the evil spirits that cause problems.  

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Afterlife

Traditionally death is not viewed as the end of life but partly reborn in latter generations.  Traditional belief also held to the understanding of a heaven (Skyland) and a hell (Land of the Dead).  Some of the rituals practiced by religious believers were open to participation of the souls of the dead and sometimes held in their honor.

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Biblical Connections (Rewritten in Native Terms)

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Luke 16: The rich man and Lazarus

Lazarus was a man living off the land and barely making it each day.  He died.  There was a rich man there that also died.  The rich man went to the Land of the Dead and Lazarus went to the Skyland.  At one time the rich man opened his eyes and saw Lazarus in the Skyland and he called to the spirit there to send Lazarus  to cool his tongue in the dry Land of the Dead.  The spirit over the Skyland said Lazarus could not come to the Land of the Dead, neither could the rich man come to the Skyland.  The rich man then asked the spirit to send Lazarus to his brothers to tell them that the Land of the Dead is real.  The spirit said Lazarus was in the Skyland to stay but that the rich man's brothers had the wise men of the land to listen to.  But the rich man said: "No, but if one comes unto them from the dead they will repent."  

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The question is what is it that they should repent of?  

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Is a man good enough to go the Skyland by himself, or does he need the help of another?

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If a man offered to pay your way to the Skyland, would you accept the gift or would you refuse it?

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Every man has done bad things and none is worthy to be in heaven, but the Spirit that created heaven, earth, hell, and who has created you and your own spirit has paid your way to live in the Skyland.  There is no money to be paid, there is no work or deed to live in heaven after death.  He does it out of love for you and me.

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If you could trust in a Savior to pay your way to the Skyland what would stop you from accepting this gift?

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Luke 8: The man with the legion of devils

There was a man covered with many evil spirits who made the man naked in the winter, and lived among the graves of the dead.  Sometimes this man would be bound in chains but the power of the spirits would break the chains.  One day a Healer came to this man and asked him his name.  My name is "Legion" because of the many evil spirits.  This Healer was powerful and came as the Son of the Creator of the World.  He walked among men and healed many people.  The people wanted to make Him a king and a powerful ruler over the world.  

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But this Healer chose a life to live on the land with no home and no bed but to move among the world and heal the sick and the broken.  

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This Healer taught of the after life.  He taught of the Skyland and of the Land of the Dead.  He told people that if they lived as they were then the Skyland was out of reach but they were destined to remain in the Land of the Dead.  But that if they chose to be healed by Him then their spirit would live forever in the Skyland.

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Do you want to reside in the Land of the Dead when you die, or do you want to live in the Skyland?  

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Will you choose to be healed by the Healer today?  His offer is being made to you today, just as He offered it to Legion.