Kiliii Yuyan Photographer

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Flora Aiken gives a silent blessing to the first bowhead whale of the spring season. The Iñupiaq have a rich spiritual life which centers around the gift of the whale to the community. Foster Simmonds offers a prayer, saying, "Hide something for me. Look at the food, the whales. Look at the sea, the whalers. A blessing for them. Take that and hide it in your heart." The whale here is tied up after being towed to the ice's edge and is awaiting the village to come and help haul it onto the ice.

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