Ann Fienup-Riordan facts for kids

Ann Fienup-Riordan (born 1948) is an American cultural anthropologist. This means she studies human cultures and societies. She is well-known for her work with the Yup'ik people. The Yup'ik are a group of Alaska Native people living in western Alaska. She has spent a lot of time studying their culture, especially on Nelson Island and in the Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta area.

Ann Fienup-Riordan lives in Anchorage, Alaska. She earned her Ph.D. in anthropology in 1980 from the University of Chicago. Her first major research was based on fieldwork she did on Nelson Island, Alaska, from 1976 to 1977.

Awards and Recognition

Ann Fienup-Riordan has received several important awards for her work:

• Historian of the Year: She was named Historian of the Year by the Alaska Historical Society in both 1991 and 2001. This award recognized her important contributions to understanding Alaska's history.
• Distinguished Humanities Educator: In 2001, she was honored as a Distinguished Humanities Educator for Alaska. This shows her dedication to teaching and sharing knowledge about human culture.
• Denali Award: In 2000, she received the Denali Award from the Alaska Federation of Natives. This special award is given to a non-Native person who has made the greatest contribution to Alaska Native people.

Her Books and Research

Ann Fienup-Riordan has written many books about the Yup'ik people. Her books help us understand their way of life, traditions, and how they have changed over time. She often writes about:

• Yup'ik Culture and History: Many of her books explore the social structures, daily life, and historical experiences of the Yup'ik.
• Oral Traditions: She has recorded and shared many traditional stories and wise sayings from the Yup'ik people. These stories are important for passing down knowledge through generations.
• Masks and Art: She has also written about the traditional Yup'ik masks. These masks are used in ceremonies and are a very important part of their culture and art.
• Modern Life: Her work also looks at how Yup'ik traditions continue in a changing world. She explores how they balance their ancient customs with modern challenges.

Some of her notable books include:

• The Nelson Island Eskimo: Social Structure and Ritual Distribution (1983)
• Eskimo Essays: Yup'ik Lives and How We See Them (1990)
• The Living Tradition of Yup'ik Masks: Agayuliyararput (Our Way of Making Prayer) (1996)
• Hunting Tradition in a Changing World: Yup'ik Lives in Alaska Today (2000)
• Wise Words of the Yup'ik People: We Talk to You because We Love You (2005)

Exhibitions

Ann Fienup-Riordan's research has also been shared through museum exhibitions. These shows allow many people to see and learn about Yup'ik culture.

• Agayuliyararput (Our Way of Making Prayer): The Living Tradition of Yup'ik Masks: This exhibit opened in 1996. It showed the amazing Yup'ik masks and their cultural meaning. It traveled to many museums, including the Yupiit Piciryarait Museum in Bethel, the Anchorage Museum, and even the National Museum of the American Indian in New York.
• Yuungnaqpiallerput (The Way We Genuinely Live): Masterworks of Yupik Science and Survival: This exhibition opened in 2007. It focused on the clever ways Yup'ik people have survived and thrived in Alaska. It also traveled to several museums in Alaska and Washington, D.C.

These exhibitions helped share the rich culture and knowledge of the Yup'ik people with a wider audience.