Fish Mouth

Collected by David Nicolai from his Yup'ik Eskimo grandmother, who lives in a small village near Bethel in southwest Alaska. "Fish Mouth" is preceded by a design that represents the two eyes of a fish.

<Full-length video in Windows Media Player>

Step-by-Step Video Clips

Written Instructions

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 all

Step 3 - 5, from below, enters the lower and central loops on 1, then 5 passes to the far side of upper 1f (a transverse string); 5 hooks down upper 1f, drawing it down through the central and lower loops on 1.

2 and 3, from above, enter the upper and central loops on 1, then 2 and 3 trap lower 1n (a transverse string) between them; 2, with the help of 3, hooks up lower 1n, drawing it up through the central and upper loops on 1.

Release all loops from 1, arrange as needed, and extend to reveal two double-walled diamonds. In northern Alaska this figure represents the body of a burbot fish.