Nasuġraq Rainey Hopson is a bit of a renaissance woman. The 46-year-old author, illustrator and avid gardener lives in Anaktuvuk Pass, a village of about 300 people roughly 70 miles above the Arctic Circle. And earlier this month, Hopson’s first book — which she published last September after 14 years of writing and illustrating — received a nod from the American Library Association’s prestigious Newbery Award for children’s literature.
“Eagle Drums” is a retelling of the first Messenger Feast — called Kivgiq in Iñupiaq — a traditional mid-winter festival that celebrates Iñupiaq dance, art and storytelling. The three-day festival is held in Utqiaġvik every two years, but Hopson says it died out in the early twentieth century due to the influence of Presbyterian missionaries who came to the region.
“They brought it back sometime in the 80s, based on celebrations from elders who remember attending as children.” Hopson said. “It's a feast that celebrates connection with each other, but also how our people got music and song and dance from the eagles.”
“Eagle Drums” follows a young hunter named Piŋa who is sent by his family to collect firestarter from the same mountain where his two older brothers disappeared years before. Once he reaches the mountain, Piŋa is kidnapped by a giant eagle who takes him to an eagle village.
“This is originally an oral story, an oral mythology, what we call ‘unipkaat,’” Hopson said. “It's mythological beings and fantastical creatures and events, and these are used to basically pass on morals and lessons.”
Living among the eagle gods, who can shapeshift into humans, Piŋa learns practical wisdom and drumming along with traditional Iñupiaq values like sharing, community, and avoiding conflict.
Hopson is a self-proclaimed sci-fi and fantasy nerd, so the story is right up her alley. Interspersed between pages are her colored pencil illustrations guiding the narrative.
Hopson said her children are her number one motivation for writing, and the book is dedicated to her two daughters.
“I think it's important that we create things for our kids to see themselves in,” she said.
Hopson says she wishes there were more Iñupiaq writers, and she hopes that her book inspires others to write and record their stories.
“Especially considering that our communities are so artistic, and such talented people as storytellers,” she said. “It shouldn't be just like, ‘I like this Iñupiaq book because it exists.’ It should be, ‘I like this book because it's my favorite out of these hundred.’”
“Eagle Drums” has already received several awards including the American Indian Youth Literature Award, which honors the best writing and illustration by and about Indigenous Peoples. But Hopson said feedback from other Indigenous people, and Iñupiaq people specifically, is the most rewarding.
“There's a pretty large population of people who were adopted out of our communities, over generations and generations, from young to old,” said Hopson. “I had so many people reach out to me, just to express how happy they are, that there's something they can hold their hands, and read and connect to their culture.”
Hopson said she's now working on illustrating a book by Debbie Edwards, another North Slope author, and has been writing for the sequel to the Iñupiaq-themed video game “Never Alone.” Her Newbery Honor book “Eagle Drums” is available where most books are sold.
