Читать книгу Charlie and the Blanket Toss - Tricia Brown - Страница 6

Nalukataq! The Summer Whaling Festival was Charlie’s favorite Iñupiaq^• holiday. Tradition said that those who caught a whale—his father’s crew!—decided when the outdoor celebration would be, usually in June.

There would be an all-day feast, storytelling, drumming, singing, and dancing to honor the whalers who helped provide for the community. And best of all, Charlie thought, the blanket toss.

After dinner, grandmother shared a story about Nalukataq, telling it as she had heard it from her grandfather, and his grandfather before him, keeping memory alive.

“Iñupiat^• people, for thousands of years, we take care of each other,” his Aana^• said. “One boat catches a whale … nobody starves. Pretty good reason for Nalukataq, eh?”

^•eh-NU-pea-ak ^•eh-NU-pea-at ^•AH-nuh