By: Luda Kinok, Sighineghmiit Immigrant to Alaska
My name is Luda Kinok. I was born in 1977 in Sireniki village, (Sighineq in Yupik) on the southeast coast of Chukotka. The USSR was at the height of the Cold War by the time of my birth. I am named after my grandfather, Kinguk, and my grandmother’s father, Illutaq.
There are four main Yupik groups in Chukotka, Russia—Ungazighmiit, Nuvuqaghmiit, Sighineghmiit, and Avatmiit—with several other smaller tribal groups. Each have their own distinct language, culture, and ancient ancestral territory. The Yupik are the only ethnic group in Russia related by blood to people in Alaska.
Note: The map in Figure 1 is sourced from Central Siberian Yupik Language.
For us, Yupiget (plural), the…