About the film
Drums of Winter, also known as Uksuum Cauyai: Drums of Winter, is a 1988 ethnographic documentary about Yup'ik culture in Emmonak, Alaska, a village on the Bering Sea. Directed by Sarah Elder and Leonard Kamerling, it follows Yup'ik people as they work to preserve traditional dances and the potlatch ceremony. The film conveys the strain of traditions weakened by years of religious and government intervention.
Its community-collaborative production gave the people shown substantial influence over the film’s content and presentation. Rather than relying on an unseen narrator, it uses conversations with individual Yup'ik participants. This approach keeps the account centered on their voices and experiences.
The film is an English-language documentary from the United States, released in 1988, and is associated with the National Film Registry.
Who it is for
It suits viewers interested in Yup'ik culture, ethnographic documentaries, Alaska, and community-led storytelling. Teachers and students studying cultural traditions or documentary form may also find it useful.
Worth knowing
- Focuses on Yup'ik culture in Emmonak, Alaska
- Documents traditional dances and potlatch ceremony
- Community-collaborative production shaped the presentation
- Uses conversations with individual Yup'ik participants
- Directed by Sarah Elder and Leonard Kamerling
Before you press play
- Covers traditions affected by religious and government intervention
- Released in 1988
The short of it
Drums of Winter offers a focused portrait of Yup'ik cultural practices and changing traditions. Its participant conversations and collaborative production make the film’s viewpoint central to the experience.
Awards on record
- National Film Registry