The Art of Mukluk Making; The Preservation of Yup'ik Boots
Keyword
Yup'ik Muklukstraditional Yup'ik Piluguks
Gamiks
Yup'ik Style Mukluks
Contemporary Yup'ik Mukluks
Alaska Style Hardbottom Mukluks
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The Art of Mukluk Making has been dwindling for the past 50 years in my lifetime; with the passing of the elderly women within the Yup’ik community, they took this skill’s expertise with them. Today only a tiny handful of elders are alive to share their proficiency. Those interested in the traditional role want to learn to preserve the knowledge to make them for their children and family members; others want to make them for the challenge of wanting to learn, and some for the simplicity of keeping the culture alive. No matter how it is perceived, teachers and experts in this skilled craft have passed on, leaving only a few with the knowledge to teach others; some try to decipher the remaining tweaks and balances of getting the boot just right. The research of this project has shown a need to teach others how to make the boots, preserve the teachings through internet technology and data sharing, and enable others to learn the skill and begin the Art of Mukluk Making. Using a social platform, the YouTube channel, The Art of Mukluk Making, provides clear instructions and demonstrations on how to make contemporary-style piluguk, also known as mukluks.Description
A Project Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in Project ManagementDate
2023-05-01Publisher
University of Alaska AnchorageType
Master's ProjectCollections
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