At Calista Education and Culture, we have been documenting Yup'ik traditional knowledge in southwest Alaska since 1998. During many of our discussions with elders, the subject of ircenrraat, the little people, would pop up. They are said to be miniature in size, and very crafty, and they exist in a different dimension with the ability to appear and disappear as they please in our world. Those who have encountered them have witnessed them hunting, fishing, and gathering together as our own people do. They have also stated that being invited to their dwellings for a day is like a year in our lifetime. We have been fortunate to have heard many stories, and we are pleased to put them together in this book. 

By Alice Rearden, Maire Meade, Mark John, and Ann Fienup-Riordan