Ellam Yua In Yup'ik Culture

In my Yup’ik culture in Alaska, we called our creator Ellam Yua — the Person of the Universe. Our original elders, who lived in the natural way before outside influences arrived, often reminded us that the teachings of the Bible carried the same essence as the wisdom passed down by our ancestors. They did not realize it was Christ all along. In the end, all true wisdom flows from Ellam Yua — all‑knowing, all‑seeing, and holding all things in balance.

Ellam Yua gave life so that we might live. Our ancestors walked in balance with the land, the sky, and the waters. Every fish and animal honored the purpose Ellam Yua entrusted to them. Their way of life was shaped by the gifts of Ellam Yua, the one who ruled over the sky, the heavens, and the universe.

If you strip away all the events of the Bible and look at its core purpose, it is centered on Love and Ellam Yua. Our ancestors did not know His true name until the missionaries arrived. “The missionaries brought Qaneryaraq, the written word — the Bible,” shared by our late Deacon Mike Angaiak, Sr. of Tununak. The elders I heard growing up said that Native people were already living in accordance with the Creator’s teachings long before the Qaneryaraq – The Word reached them in written form.

A Shaman’s Story

While a missionary was traveling by dog team toward Qaluyarmit (Nelson Island), a shaman decided to investigate through astral travel. In his flight he saw a sled team glowing brightly in the distance. As he drew closer, he saw a white man dressed in Native clothing — but the light was not coming from the man. It shone from beneath the coverings of the sled.

Inside was a bundle of flattened wooden white leaves bound in leather — a book. The light coming from this book spoke a powerful Qaneryaraq, words he had heard from elders and ancestors, now written down. These words were full of light, love, guidance, wisdom — teachings of how to be a Yup’ik human being: Yuyaraq, Ellangcartutet, Qaneryaraq and all the goodness that lived with creation.

He was afraid of the powerful presence within this Qaneryaraq — The Word — yet he could not see Him, because He was everywhere. Suddenly he fell back, realizing no harm was coming from the sled. The man on the sled was still just a man, with all his shortcomings, but he carried something more powerful than anything the shaman had ever seen. Fearfully, the shaman returned to his body and told no one for a time.

Agayuliyararput – Our Way of Making Prayer

For thousands of years, countless generations believed in Ellam Yua. They honored the Creator through Agayuliyararput — Our Way of Making Prayer, the great festival of dance celebrating the life‑giving gifts bestowed by Ellam Yua. It was understood that animals offered themselves as gifts to be shared. Some ceremonial masks had holes in their hands to symbolize Ellam Yua’s authority over these gifts — holes that would begin to close if people became greedy or fought over resources.

During the celebration, several neighboring villages also participated. They had sinew strings from the four corners of the Qasgiq – Communal Sod House, joined together in the center of the Qasgiq. On it were carvings and figurines representing all the animals, birds and fish hanging from it. The whole string was pulled up and down with the rhythm of the drum. In the center was an Inagua, a doll, representing Ellam Yua who controlled all the representations of creation. The whole string ensemble represented the universe.

Animals Gave Themselves

It was believed that the animals, birds and fish gave themselves to the hunters and gatherers. It was also believed they preferred to give themselves to those who followed the teachings of Qaneryaraq-The Word. Animals watched how their bodies were treated after they were taken. Fish bones were dried so every bit of meat and fat could be eaten. They saw their bodies shared with those in need, their skins used to clothe the poor. Ellam Yua saw everything — seen and unseen — living everywhere in all beings great and small. You were always under His watch, because awareness itself was His presence in creation.

A Living Web

Early elders recognized that the Bible was not harmful; instead, it reaffirmed their belief that Ellam Yua was Jesus all along. Ellam Yua, pleased by the love, humility, respect, and generosity shown by everyone, allowed all creatures to celebrate alongside humans during great gatherings, naming ceremonies, and festivals. Every living creature and growing things, animals, birds, fish, plants, trees, insects, all carried a part of Ellam Yua’s breath, fully aware of their purpose. A living web.

We are all part of one interconnected web. Every gift from the land, air, and water existed to serve humans. The selfless giving of these creatures was a quiet, powerful expression of love from our Creator.

Ellam Yua Was Christ

The late elders who heard The Word – The Bible, believed that Ellam Yua was Christ Jesus all along. He was not part of man’s religion we see today, but in all expressions of creation, the good and love we share with one another.

The teachings of the old ways offered wisdom and guidance on how to be a true Yup’ik being, with all the goodness Ellam Yua taught and required in all His wisdom. Elders would say, “Qaneryaraq cimirngaituq – The Word will never change.”  The Word is still the same today in written form – The Bible.

The fish and wildlife, and all living creatures gave themselves as an expression of love so that we may live — just as Christ sacrificed Himself so that we may live in His light of abundance. We shall pass quickly from this world, but the Word will still be true just as it was from the beginning and will be when the world passes. Because we are not of this world, but of a kingdom vastly different from the world we know today.

Quyana Ellam Yua Agayun