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Cup'ig Eskimo - Nunivak Island Alaska family photo
Photo provided courtesy of the United States Library of Congress.

Cup'ig Eskimo - Nunivak Island Alaska

Taken in February 1929 on Nunivak Island by Edward S. Curtis, this Cup'ig Eskimo is demonstrating his large drum made of walrus stomach or bladder to the photographer.

The Mekoryuk is the only permanent settlement of the Nunivak Island in Alaska. Predominately populated by the Central Alaskan Yupik , or Cup'ig, Meroyuk was recorded as having 702 people living in nine villages according to the 1880 United States census. However, an epidemic destroyed many of the Cup'ig in the early 1900's and of the 2000 census only 210 native people are living in this area.

Edward S. Curtis was a well known photographer of West America and of the Native Americans. Thanks to Curtis' photographs we are able to remember the every day lives of the Native American people. Edward Sheriff Curtis was born on February 16th, 1868 and died October 19th, 1952. ... show more

The drummer--Nunivak
1 photographic print.
Eskimo man, wearing fur parka, with a large hand-held drum, similiar in appearance to a tambourine, made of walrus stomach or bladder.
  • J299926 U.S. Copyright Office.
  • Title from item.
  • Forms part of: Edward S. Curtis Collection (Library of Congress).
  • Published in: The North American Indian / Edward S. Curtis. [Seattle, Wash.] : Edward S. Curtis, 1907-30, Suppl. v. 20, pl. 692.
  • Curtis (Edward S.) Collection
  • Indians of North America--Alaska--Nunivak Island--1920-1930.
  • Eskimos--Music--1920-1930.
  • Hand drums--1920-1930.
  • Hides & skins--1920-1930.
  • Fur garments--1920-1930.
  • Photographic prints--1920-1930.
  • Portrait photographs--1920-1930.
Curtis, Edward S., 1868-1952, photographer
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Photo taken at Nunivak Island Mekoryuk, Alaska United States of America