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.