Eskimo yo-yo

An Eskimo yo-yo[lower-alpha 1] or Alaska yo-yo[lower-alpha 2] (Central Yupik: yuuyuuk;[19] Inupiaq: igruuraak) is a traditional two-balled skill toy played and performed by the Eskimo-speaking Alaska Natives, such as Inupiat, Siberian Yupik, and Yup'ik. It resembles fur-covered bolas and yo-yo. It is regarded as one of the most simple, yet most complex, cultural artifacts/toys in the world.[8][9] The Eskimo yo-yo involves simultaneously swinging two sealskin balls suspended on caribou sinew strings in opposite directions with one hand. It is popular with Alaskans and tourists alike.[10] This traditional toy is two unequal lengths of twine, joined together, with hand-made leather objects (balls, bells, hearts) at the ends of the twine.[20][lower-alpha 3]

Basic motion of the yo-yo, the handle must be moved rhythmically to maintain the orbits

The object of the Eskimo yo-yo is to make the balls circle in opposite directions at the same time. Each cord is a different length to allow the balls to pass without striking one another,[16][12] and the balls are powered by centripetal force (as they rise the performer pumps down, while they fall the performer pumps up).[17] This basic trick may be referred to as the "Eskimo orbit", and the orbit may be performed vertically, horizontally, or (horizontally) above one's head.[21] Other tricks or patterns include atypical beginnings and wrapping and/or bouncing the strings around a part of one's body and then continuing with the orbit. A three-ball version of the Eskimo yo-yo also exist, and this requires all three balls to be moving at the same time.[22]

The objects at the end of the string are made in a variety of shapes, ranging from seals, ptarmigan feet and dolls, to miniature mukluks and simple balls.[10][12] The handle may be wood, bone, or ivory,[13] as well as baleen. Many are plainly decorated; others display elaborate decorations, fine beadwork, and intricate details.[10] The Eskimo yo-yo is bola, toy, and art form all rolled into one. One of their most popular forms of the Alaska Native art are yo-yos. Also, this is a popular tourist art found in gift shops across Alaska.[10] Some shops carry only Native-made pieces, while others, according to Alysa Klistoff, carry imitation pieces made in China.[10] See: Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990. Much like the spinning top (e.g. Maxwell's top), the yo-yo may also be used to demonstrate visual properties such as optical rotation[23] and circular dichroism.[24]

Though the early history of the Eskimo yo-yo is not recorded, Eskimos maintain that this game originated as an important and widely used hunting tool made simply with sinew and bones, the bola.[10][15][18] It possibly evolved on St. Lawrence Island from the similarly constructed sinew and rock bolas used in bird hunting.[11] Chris Kiana, who learned the yo-yo from his grandfather at the age of three, has published a book of one hundred tricks or patterns and has released a DVD compilation of his earlier VHS instructional videos.[25]

See also

 Toys portal  Games portal

Notelist
  1. "Eskimo" may be considered a derogatory term.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
  2. Known in English as Eskimo yo-yo,[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] Alaskan yo-yo,[15] Alaska Eskimo yo-yo, Alaskan Eskimo yo-yo, Alaskan Inuit Eskimo yo-yo, Alaska Native yo-yo, Inuit yo-yo,[17] Inupiat yo-yo,[18] Yup'ik yo-yo, Yupik yo-yo or Eskimo bolo,[16] Arctic bolo,[10] Mountain bolo[16]
  3. Definitions:
    • "The Eskimo Bolo has been used for years in many cultures and has been known as Mountain Bolo, Eskimo Yo-yo, and other names. Some ancient cultures used a similar device as a hunting weapon. The object of the Eskimo Bolo is to make the balls circle in opposite directions at the same time. Each cord is a different length to allow the balls to pass without striking one another."[16]
    • "The Eskimo yo-yo is a toy popular with Alaskans and tourists alike that involves rotating two sealskin balls suspended on sinew strings in opposite directions. It probably evolved on St. Lawrence Island from the similarly constructed sinew and rock bolas used in bird hunting."[11]
    • "Based on a bola design, in olden times tools like this were made of rocks tethered together with sinew and were used to catch birds...the two ends can be made to rotate in opposite directions – that is, with one end revolving around the center handle clockwise, and the other revolving counterclockwise."[18]
    • "An 'Eskimo yo-yo' is a toy consisting of two objects attached to strings of slightly different lengths. The player twirls the strings so that the objects circle in opposite directions. Miniature mukluks, small stuffed fur animals such as birds or seals, and ptarmigan feet are common yo-yo attachments."[12]
    • "This game consists of two pieces connected by a sinew, yarn, or strings. They have a handle of wood, bone, or ivory. The pieces are covered with seal skin. The object is to keep the balls swinging in opposite directions. To play, start one ball swinging in one direction, then toss the other ball in the opposite direction (one yo-yo string should be slightly longer than the other). A slight up and down movement of the wrist will help prevent the balls from striking each other."[13]
    • "The Eskimo yo-yo is a training version of the bolo weapon. To play with an Eskimo yo-yo, get the two orbitals spinning in opposite directions—it's harder than you might think!"[14]

References
  1. Israel, Mark. "Eskimo". Alt-usage-english.org. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2012-06-13.
  2. "Cree Mailing List Digest November 1997". Retrieved 2012-06-13.
  3. Mailhot, Jose (1978). "L'etymologie de "esquimau" revue et corrigée". Etudes/Inuit/Studies. 2 (2).
  4. Goddard, Ives (1984). Handbook of North American Indians, Vol. 5 (Arctic). Smithsonian Institution. ISBN 978-0-16-004580-6.
  5. Kaplan, Lawrence. inuit-eskimo/ "Inuit or Eskimo: Which name to use?" Alaskan Native Language Center, UFA. Retrieved 14 Feb 2015.
  6. "Setting the Record Straight About Native Languages: What Does "Eskimo" Mean In Cree?". Native-languages.org. Retrieved 2012-06-13.
  7. "Eskimo". American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language:banana, 2000. Bartleby. Archived from the original on 2001-04-12. Retrieved 2018-01-05.
  8. Kiana, Chris (2004/2016). Original 100 Alaska Eskimo Yo-Yo Stratagems: Instructional Book. Publication Consultants. ASIN: B007SNYM38. ISBN 978-1594330131/ISBN 9781594331879.
  9. "Chris Kiana". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 2014-11-09.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link) and "Keynote Speaker: Christopher (Chris) J. Kiana, M.B.A., MA-RD, Ph.D., candidate", WCSpeakers.com (accessed: December 01 2016).
  10. Klistoff, Alysa J. (2007), Weapon, Toy, or Art? The Eskimo yo-yo as a commodified Arctic bola and marker of cultural Identity. University of Alaska Fairbanks. OCLC 103303229.
  11. Applegate Krouse, Susan and Howard, Heather A. (2009). Keeping the Campfires Going: Native Women's Activism in Urban Communities, p.103, n.4 (cites Lee, Molly. "Strands of Gold", Anchorage Daily News (We Alaskans). October 17, 1999, 18-13.). University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 9780803226456.
  12. Morrow, Phyllis (1987). Making the best of two worlds: an anthropological approach to the development of bilingual education materials in southwestern Alaska, p.206, n.1. Cornell.
  13. "Eskimo Yo-Yo Archived 2016-12-01 at the Wayback Machine", AnchorageMuseum.org/Shop. Accessed: November 30, 2016.
  14. "Eskimo Yo-Yo - Cylindrical Archived 2016-11-30 at the Wayback Machine", AlaskaMuseumStore.com. Accessed: November 30, 2016.
  15. "Juanita Tukrook", CommunityCelebration.org. ("First Nation Inupiak elder. Born in Fairbanks, Alaska in a small village called Tanana along the Arctic slope."): "Even when we catch ducks, we use this for a feather duster or you know something in the house. We try to use all parts of the animal. This is um...made from seal and this is called ah...Alaskan yo-yo, Eskimo yo-yo. And this is how you work it. But this is some of the toys I played with growing up." Accessed November 29, 2061.
  16. "Eskimo Bolo Archived 2014-11-09 at the Wayback Machine", ToysfromthePast.com. Accessed: November 29, 2016.
  17. Walton, Sandra J. "An Inuit yo-yo", Science Experiments on File (FOFWeb.com/onfiles/SEOF), p.2.
  18. Donachy, Jack & Barbra (October 8, 2013. "Inupiat (Eskimo) Yo-Yo with Polar Bear Fur", CutterLight.com. Accessed November 29, 2016.
  19. Liz Atseriak, Igarta and Brunk, Cara (1998). Yuuyuuk [Eskimo yo-yo]. Lower Kuskokwim School District. ASIN: B01FWT5PY4. (in Central Yupik)
  20. Doogan, Mike (1993). How to Speak Alaskan, . Epicenter. ISBN 9780945397243.
  21. Kiana, Chris. "3 Basic Tricks". Archived from the original on 10 February 2005. Retrieved 2016-11-30.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
  22. "More than One Way to Play Bola". CHIN-Canadian Heritage Information Network. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  23. Gill, S. J. (1961), "A demonstration of optical rotation with an "Eskimo yo-yo"". Journal of Chemical Education 38 (5): 263. (subscription required)
  24. Meloan, Clifton E. and Gere, Dennis (1977), "The use of an Eskimo yo-yo to demonstrate circular dichroism and optical rotation". Journal of Chemical Education 54 (9): 577. (subscription required)
  25. "Eskimo YoYo DVD Archived 2016-12-02 at the Wayback Machine", Store.AlaskaNative.net. Accessed: December 01 2016.

Further reading
  • Kiana, Chris (1986). Eskimo Yo Yo Tricks: 50 Tricks Instructional Book with Eskimo Customs & Legends Paperback. H&K. ASIN: B00P0GWUDE.
  • Kiana, Chris (1997). Alaska Eskimo Yo-Yo. VHS. Takotna Video, Alaska Eskimo Yo-Yo Company Inc. ASIN: B000UFSP8E.
  • Kiana, Chris (2009). Chris Kiana's Educational Eskimo Yo-yo. DVD. Takotna Video, Alaska Eskimo Yo-Yo Company Inc.
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