parka on the left, photos of people wearing parkas on the right

IMARNITEG

(Cup’ig Gut Parka) Made by Nan Kiokun of Mekoryuk, Nunivak Island. Collected in 1968. Gift of Eva & Kenneth Kriger, ASM 92-2-83.

Winter-processed bearded seal intestine with walrus intestine underarms for durability. Overall thread-sewn; construction with stab-stitched seams reinforced by beach grass. Tabs on inside seams of upper torso. Esophagus trim around hood, and tuft of red-dyed dog hair at back of hood. Cotton cordage drawstring at hood.

Top right: Eben Olrun, Evan Williams, and Palmer Olrun of the village of Mekoryuk, 1954, wearing gut raincoats. Ward Wells Collection, Anchorage Museum, B1983.91.S1564.811. Bottom right: Ugiyaku of Nunivak Island. Photogravure by Edward S. Curtis. ASM collection V-C-92.

Common Cup’ig Materials

  • Often made of bearded seal intestine, sometimes walrus or beluga whale.
  • Opaque white winter-processed gut sometimes seen on Nunivak Island.
  • Red tab of hair (likely dog) or yarn at tip of hood.
  • Almost always has beach grass used as seam reinforcement.
  • Underarms may be of a more durable material, such as walrus intestine.
  • Strip of white sealskin or esophagus around the hood edge.

Regional Commonalities

Winter-processed gut parkas from Nunivak Island are relatively rare in museum collections and share many design features with mainland Yup’ik raincoats.

Typical Cup’ig Construction

  • Intestinal strips are oriented horizontally, sewn in a spiral around the torso. (No side seams).
  • Sewn with a stab stitch around reinforcements of beach grass on each side of the seam.
  • Most seams are on the interior, but some sleeve seams may be on the exterior.
  • Hood is not gathered but has straight seams with drawstring.
  • Tip of hood may feature adornment such as a tuft of red dog hair.
  • Single long strip extends from one wrist, over the hood, down to the other wrist.
  • Small triangles in the collarbone area help transition neck/arm/torso intersection.
  • May have rounded “tabs” at seam intersections in upper torso area.
  • Sleeve openings may be simple with grass-reinforced edge or fabric trim.
  • Bottom hem is usually unfinished.