A Whale For a Covering, Food, and Light

Before wood was flown to St. Lawrence Island (at great expense,) Yupik families lived in homes constructed of cavernous whale heads and bones. The same whale’s meat sustained the village and its blubber provided fuel.

I listened, fascinated, to a lecture on whales and whaling by Bathsheba Demuth, assistant professor of history at Brown University specializing in environmental history, Russian & North American Arctic climate and energy.   She described the interconnectedness between Yupik people and whales. She spoke of the unfortunate impact of US and Russian commercial and factory whaling on the area. The overarching principles of the Yupik’s interdependent identity really struck me.

St. Lawrence Island’s climate limits vegetation growth. For centuries, islanders relied on bowhead whales for most of their sustenance. Now, other household goods and foodstuffs are flown to the island also. Whaling laws prohibit general hunting, but native populations are “allowed” six whale strikes a year.  If they strike and do not kill a whale, the strike still counts against their total allowable strikes.

As Professor Demuth spoke, I saw a circle of connectedness.  According to her narrative, each species acknowledged the importance/value/significance of the other in the ecosystem. Neither species was an object to be exploited or ignored.

Preparing to Receive the Whale

The interconnected process of whale and community reminded me of Latter-day Saints’ interconnectedness to God.  I saw oneness and “in,” “through,” and “by” in a whole new way.

Professor Demuth described how the community prepared to receive a whale, proving a worthiness for the animal to sacrifice itself for their community.  They performed rituals to cleanse themselves and the physical community.  When each community member and the community itself were cleansed, a captain launched his boat and crew into the sea.

At sea, the captain performed another ritual involving a song, or call, to the whales.  He basically asked the whale to come and offer itself as a sacrifice for their community, while expressing gratitude for such an offering.

Whales would appear in the distance.  To the Yupik’s perception, the whale lingered as if considering the offer.  Sometimes the whale would dive and never be seen again.  Sometimes, the whale would dive and resurface right next to the boat, as if to say it agreed to be a willing offering for another species’ survival.

The crew would take the whale and transport it back to the waiting community where every part of the whale was used and internalized into their lives in some significant way.

Significantly, I learned that they actually even lived inside the whale’s carcass.  They used it for food and fuel. They protected themselves with it. Their communities left bones or relics visible to honor the whale’s sacrifice for their community.

This image of the Yupiks totally incorporating the whale brought images of Jesus to mind.

As a Covering

Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin.

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. He shall cover thee….

And it shall come to pass that I, the Lord God, will send one mighty and strong, holding the scepter of power in his hand, clothed with light for a covering, whose mouth shall utter words, eternal words; while his bowels shall be a fountain of truth, to set in order the house of God….

As Sustaining Food

For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

As a Source of Light

I will be a light unto them forever, that hear my words.

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

As Impacting Every Part of Life

I am over all, and in all, and through all….

He that ascended up on high, as also he descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth;

Which truth shineth. This is the light of Christ. As also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was made. As also he is in the moon, and is the light of the moon, and the power thereof by which it was made; As also the light of the stars, and the power thereof by which they were made;And the earth also, and the power thereof, even the earth upon which you stand.

And the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings; Which light proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space—

The light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God who sitteth upon his throne, who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all things.

Like the Yupik, I approach God, grateful for a sacrifice for my salvation. The sacrifice is already offered. I need to accept the sacrifice and incorporate it into every facet of my life where I’ll find total sustenance and salvation.