Every culture has its folklore, and Alaska is no different. Native Alaskans have carried these fascinating tales with them throughout the generations and continue to pass them on to their progeny. It's been said that, though folklore is rich with fantastic tales that seem to be the product of someone's colorful imagination, there~s always a kernel of
truth hidden somewhere within.

In one such tale called, The First Tears, which is the Eskimos explanation of the very first human tears to be shed a man went hunting for seals, leaving his wife and son at home to await his return with the evening's dinner. When he got to the shore, the man noticed that there was an abundance of seals and was delighted by the prospect of a good catch for the evening. As he slowly crept toward them, they all began to slip into the water, away from his reach. One seal, farther down from the rest, appeared not to notice him and remained on the shore. Just before he came within its reach, the seal joined the others in the water. Suddenly, the man noticed that water was leaking from his eyes and the sounds of sobbing were coming from his throat. Hearing this and fearing that something terrible had happened, the son ran to his mother and they both made haste to the shore. When they arrived and saw the water running from the man's eyes, he explained what had happened, and their eyes, too, began to leak water. Later, the man and his son were finally able to capture and kill a seal, and used its hide as a trap to catch others, so that they wouldn't go hungry again.

Another popular Alaskan story, The House Dog and the Wolf, tells of an unlikely pairing. A domesticated dog and a wild wolf meet in a wood. The wolf is thin and hungry, while the dog is plump and sated. The wolf asks the dog where he gets his food, and the dog speaks about his owner. He explains how he guards the house in exchange for shelter and meals.
The wolf thinks this sounds pretty good and starts to travel with the dog toward the owner's family, but then he notices a mark on the dog's neck. The dog says it must be an indentation from the collar he must wear every day. He explains that he is leashed up during the day, but is allowed to run free at night. The wolf immediately turns around, informing the dog that he values his freedom more than he values a lazy, easy life.

These, and many other folk tales, help to enrich the cultural experience for the Alaskan youth, as well as for visitors who are fortunate enough to hear a tale or two as they pass through during their travels.

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