ABSTRACT
Using theories of human–animal relationship, mimesis and embodiment, this chapter explores how embodied knowledge of St. Lawrence Island Yupik and Iñupiat and their relationship with the environment are recapitulated in their dances and how human–animal relationships are generated and expressed through their dancing. Knowledge embodied in dance often derives from their involvement in a continuous process of life experience and social memory. Part of Yupik and Iñupiaq dance repertoire represents their experience and knowledge of the environment, of animal behaviours and subsistence activities. It also represents human understanding of how animals view humans. Indigenous dance movement is closely related to the body movement of their daily life, yet dance performance on stage needs practise and familiarity with the context, which performers may learn through training.
