02x12 - Lynx to the Past/Molly of the Yukon

[bunniefuu]

Hey, everyone-- it's me, Molly!

♪Molly of Denali ♪

Let's go!

♪ She's Molly of Denali

[laughing]: Whooo!

♪ By plane or sled or snowshoe ♪

♪ She is ready to explore

♪ From Kaktovik down to Juneau ♪

♪ Always wanting to learn more ♪

Yeah!

♪ Together with her best friend Tooey ♪

♪ Always by her side And Trini!

♪ Discovering the outdoors

♪ On adventures day and night

♪ Come along with Molly

♪ Molly

♪ Through fields of fireweed

♪ Come along with Molly

♪ Molly

♪ From tundra to the sea

Mahsi'choo-- let's go!

♪ Molly of Denali

Yeah!

♪ She's Molly of Denali

♪ Come on ♪ Let's go!

♪ Molly of Denali

♪ She's Molly of Denali

MOLLY: "Lynx to the Past."

[drum pounding on recording]

Okay, good.

Now hands to the left.

Hands to the right.

[phone ringing and vibrating, drum stops][kids yelp]

[laughing]

[ringing and vibrating]

It's my Grandma Elizabeth!

[phone beeps]

Maurluq!

Hi, honey.

I've just arrived in Qyah.

Hey! Is that Molly and Trini?

Hi, you two.

Hi!Welcome back.

Guess what? We're learning the Lynx Dance.

We're performing at the Spring Fling tomorrow,

so I thought we'd do the Lynx Dance you taught me.

Oh, that's a wonderful idea.

You telling them to keep those hands high?

Yes, Maurluq.

We're just gonna finish practicing

and then I'll head right home.

Okay, see you soon.

[phone beeps]

[drum resumes]

Okay, let's try it again.

And remember, keep those hands high.

[drum pounding]

♪

[grunting]: Huh-ya.

Huh-za.

♪

Oh, yeah.

So fun, huh.

[phone beeps, drum stops] Hey.

Why'd you turn the music off?

What were those kicks?

I just thought I'd add in a few of my own moves.

You know, spice it up a little.

[grunting]: Huh-ya.

You can't do that.

I can't?

This is a traditional dance.

We have to do it exactly the way Grandma taught me.

Oh, I'm really sorry.

That's okay.

You didn't know.

It's just that Grandma is trusting me

to teach you and Molly the correct way.

Okay, I get it now.

No spice. Let's do it again.

[phone beeps, drum resumes]

[drum pounding]

Left hand up, then right hand up.

Sway left.

Sway right.

♪

Wait!

Uh, sorry, that was an accident.

That's okay.

Let's just keep going.

Hands forward, then raise them up.

Higher.

♪

[yelps]: I didn't mean to

do that with my hands.

Can we stop?

[phone beeps, drum stops]

I was practicing all last night

and now my body won't forget all that spice I put in.

That's okay.

The performance isn't until tomorrow.

We have time to get it right.

TOOEY: Yeah.

We'll just go really slow now,

and then speed it up later.

Actually, I think it might be better

if I just practice by myself.

I don't want to slow you two down.

[drum playing on recording]TRINI: Hands to the right.

Hands to the left.

Hands to the right.[whining]

[yaps]

Wait, did I do the kick?

I just did it, didn't I?

[yips]

[groans]

I knew it.

That's the fifth time in a row.

[phone beeps, drum stops]

[knock at door]

Uh, hey, Trini.

I just wanted to make sure you're okay.

You left pretty quickly earlier.

I am so not okay.

I just can't get the spice out of me.

It's like there are chilis in my feet.

[chuckling]: You wanna practice some more with me now?

I've been practicing for the last two hours.

I don't think I'll ever get it right.

You know, the dance doesn't have to be perfect.

Well, I have to be perfect, but you don't.

Thanks, Tooey.

[sighs]: But it might be better

if I didn't dance tomorrow.

Really? Yeah.

I think I'll just cheer you and Molly on from the audience.

Well, okay.

But if you change your mind, you can join us.

You know all the steps.

Thanks for checking on me, Tooey.

That was really nice.

Quyana tailuci.

But you'll join Molly and me, I mean,

if you feel like it, right?

Promise?

Promise.

[sighs]

There you go, boy.

[barking]

[barking]

[panting]

Grandma Elizabeth, good morning.

Hi, honey.

I was just admiring

your beautiful flowers.[barking]

They're forget-me-nots.

They're my mom's favorite.

They're my favorite, too.

Despite the coldest winters, they pop right back up.

They are like old friends.

That's why I decided to bead this.

Whoa!

That's beautiful.

Wanna sit for a minute?

Tooey told me

you might not dance today.

How come?

Well, I added a few of my own moves yesterday.

To spice it up?

Yeah!

But now I keep doing them

and I'm afraid I'll embarrass myself,

Tooey, and you if I do it wrong.

Don't worry about embarrassing me.

I remember adding my own spice when I learned the dance.

Hands were all over the place.

Boy, was my mama mad!

[laughing]

But eventually, I learned it right.

How old is the Lynx Dance?

Oh, hundreds of years old-- maybe even thousands.

How'd you learn it?

My mother taught it to me,

and her mother taught it to her.

And so on and so on.

That's why we like to do it right.

It honors our elders.

Why do they call it the Lynx Dance?

Wow, I'm sure asking a lot of questions, aren't I?

[laughing]: I love it.

Asking questions is a great way to learn.

The dance is based on a Yup'ik story about a lynx.

Want to hear the story?

Oh, yes, please.

♪

[drumbeat fades in]

A long time ago,

our people would travel long distances,

follow the rivers, searching for food.

One winter, it snowed longer than usual,

well into spring.

So the people of their village had to go out hunting.

Whoa.

When a blizzard came in, they got lost.

Pellayaqllua.

Then out of the storm came a lynx, beautiful

as it was strong.[gasps]

They were scared at first,

but the lynx meant no harm.

It spoke and told them to follow.

For miles, they walked through the snow.

Couldn't see nothing

except that lynx.

Teqa'caqcumllu.

That lynx brought them home.

Then back into the blizzard that lynx returned.

That was so beautiful.

Thanks.

The dance makes so much sense now.

It really doesn't need any extra spice.

[laughing]: No.

The story is just the right amount of spicy.

Now you know not just how to do the moves,

but why we do those moves.

When we dance the same way the ancestors danced,

they come alive and are dancing with us.

Thank you.

I mean, quyana, Grandma Elizabeth.

Well, I'll save you a seat next to me at the Spring Fling.

But if you feel like dancing,

you go on up there and do it, 'kay?

Okay.

♪

[people talking softly in background]

Ooh!

Hi, Maurluq.

Oh, you are so handsome in your regalia.

And you look like you are ready to go, Molly.

Mahsi'choo, Grandma Elizabeth.

Maybe we should take our places.

Mmm...

Let's wait a minute or two, for latecomers.

But our dance is scheduled for...

[clears throat]: Hm?

Or we could give folks another minute or two.

Couldn't hurt.

[door creaking open]

Sorry I'm late.

I didn't miss the performance, did I?

No, honey.

Tooey insisted we wait a couple minutes.

He did?

I did?

You did.

I guess I did.

[giggles]: I saved you a seat, like I said.

Actually, I think I'd like to dance.

[laughing]: Yes!

[gasps]: Really?

Oh, that makes me so happy.

I just hope I don't mess up.

You won't.

Here's something to help you remember the steps,

just in case.

The forget-me-nots!

Quyana, Grandma Elizabeth.

Now go on then and introduce the dance.

People are waiting.

Cam'ai,everyone.

Welcome to the opening of the Spring Fling.

This is a Yup'ik dance called the Lynx Dance.

It was taught to us by Grandma Elizabeth.

It's about finding your way through a storm,

about trust.

[pounding rhythm]

♪

♪

[audience applauding and exclaiming]

I want to say quyanato these kids.

They have made me so proud.

They made our ancestors proud.

But now, I could use some spice.

Hit it, boys!

[playing fast-paced tune]

Hey, everyone.

Molly here to answer your questions

about life in Alaska.

Rusty from Ogden, Utah, asks,

"What kinds of sleds do you like to play with?"

All kinds of sleds.

My friends can show you.

ALL: Waqaa,Molly.

Today we're sledding in Anchorage,

which is on the traditional homeland

of the Dena'ina people.

My sled is red.

I think it's gonna go really fast

because of how icy it is out.

I have a

blue rectangle sled.

It's got handles,

so I think I'm gonna be able to run with it

and just dart down the hill.

I think the blue one's gonna go faster.

CHILD: These are sleds we use today, but Alaska Natives

have been using sleds for years.

This Gwich'in sled is used to transport stuff.

CHILD: This is made with caribou skin.

They stitched it together.

CHILD: This looks more similar to the blue sled.

People would mostly pull these sleds

because it was used in more harder ground.

♪

Let's start on the smaller hill

to learn how to work the sleds.

CHILD: I use my hands to control the sled.

If you want to go left, then you

drag your left hand, and if you want to stop,

you lean back.

♪

CHILD: The last thing we're gonna do today

is race to see whose sled is the fastest.

Let's start the race over here.

Is everyone ready?

I'm ready!Let's go!

CHILD [counting]: Atauciq...

Malguk...

Pinasut!

♪

[exclaiming]

ALL: We made it!

CHILD: I won!

CHILD: I thought Channing was gonna win

'cause he was lightest, but Elizabeth won.

My favorite part was during the race.

Let's switch sleds and do it again.

ALL: Piuraa,Molly.

Mahsi'choo!

Thanks for asking and see you next time!

MOLLY: "Molly of the Yukon."

[phone camera chirps]Hey, everyone.

Molly here.

Guess what?

We're going to beautiful Beaver, Alaska.

Beaver is the village

Grandpa Nat grew up in, right, Shchada'a?

Ha, that's right, Shgguya.

It sure is great to be coming back home.

I haven't been to Beaver since I was really little.

My Uncle Cliff invited us to go fishing.

I really want to catch a Yukon River king salmon.

Speaking of the Yukon River,

look out your window,Molly.

MOLLY: Whoa!

That's it!

It's so big.

It's super-long, too-- almost , miles.

I'll show you a map.[phone camera chirps]

It stretches all the way across Alaska,

and even goes into Canada.

I want to learn more about the Yukon River,

so I brought every book I could find in the library.[phone camera chirps]

I'll check back in once we're there.

See you later![phone camera chirps]

So, how are we going

to catch the luk choo,Grandpa?

We're going to set net for the king salmon.

Set net?

I've never fished like that before.

How do you do it?

Oh, there should be a picture

in one of those books you brought.

MOLLY: Camping Along the Yukon River.

Hmm, that probably wouldn't tell me about a type of fishing.

Funny Stories of the Yukon River.

That'll be fun later,

but not quite what I need right now.

Yukon River Fishing.

I bet this has the information I need.

"Set net fishing is fishing with a net

anchored to the riverbed with weights or stakes."

My little brotherCliff

is one of the best net-setters around.

When I was your age, Uncle Cliff caught a luk choo

that was bigger than me.

Ooh!

I can't wait to catch one.

♪

[birds cawing]

[exhales]

This spot is so beautiful.

How come we don't just fish here?

The salmon are on their way upriver

to the place where they lay their eggs.

We'll let them

do that first, so there will be

plenty of salmon for years to come.

Oh, I see.

I found this on the counter.

Ah, I knew we were forgetting something.

GRANDPA NAT: Mmm, luk gaih.

My favorite.

Dry fish is my favorite, too.

[chuckles]

Mmm.

But maybe Yukon River dry fish is my even more favorite!

Better save some for later, you two.

[gasps]

What's that?

Cotton from the cottonwood trees.

Luk neeheedaa t'igwii'in.

It means the fish are coming.

When the cotton flies through the air,

the luk chooare making their way upriver.

Which means we better get this show on the road.

[blows]

♪

[engine humming]

We should get to our fishing spot

just at the king salmon opening time.

The salmon have an opening time?

Like a store?

[laughing]: Not quite.

The opening time is when we're allowed to fish

for Yukon River king salmon.

And after that, we can fish for...

How long is it, Cliff?

Two days.

Wait.

What if we haven't caught any luk chooby then?

Then we'll have to figure out another way

to get this yummy luk gaih.

Mmm, mmm, mmm.

♪

[phone camera chirps]MOLLY: Uncle Cliff and Shchada'a

are setting the nets.

Okay, that's the last one.

Woo-hoo!

What do we do now?

[chuckles]Now we wait.

I'll check back in when those nets are

full of beautiful luk choo.

Bye![phone camera chirps]

How long do you think it'll take, Shchada'a?

The luk chooare on their schedule, Shgguya,not ours.

UNCLE CLIFF: Hey!

Let's show Layla and Molly where I got my first dinjik.

Oh, you mean where I got my first dinjik,little brother.

[laughing]

[laughing]: And then we had to walk

all the way back home sopping wet.[sighs]

[laughing]

I still think I could have made it

if that moose didn't startle us.

[laughing]

Molly.

You okay?

Uh, sorry.

I was just wondering

if there'll be any fish in the nets yet.

Do you think there will be?

I don't know, but I know one thing.

Sometimes we miss the beauty of today

when we worry about tomorrow.

Yeah, you're right.

I shouldn't worry.

It's just that

we only have two days to fish.

I agree with Molly.

Enough moose stories.

Let's go pull up some luk choo!

Can I help?

Sure!

Grab that end and pull.

Well, we got some fish sticks.

Oh, no.

[groans]

It's okay.

We'll try a different spot tomorrow.

Tomorrow?

But we only have one more day to catch the king salmon.

Then we better get to camp now,

so we can get up early in the morning.

GRANDPA NAT: Here on the Hudzana River,

right before it flows into the Yukon,

we spend many, many hours hunting and fishing

and providing for our families.

Up there a ways,

your great-great-grandparents had a cabin,

even before the community of Beaver existed.

Wow!

Our family has been here for so long.

What's on your mind, Molly cub?

I was just thinking about the luk chooagain.

What if we don't catch any tomorrow?

Hmm.

Let me ask you something.

When you look out there, what do you see?

MOLLY: Uh, a river?

A big river with no king salmon in it yet.

Ha! I thought so.

But look,

what's that over there?

Oh!

A beaver.

[squeaking]

And what about over there?

[chirping]

A cute little chickadee singing.

Ee shitriginkhii zhee.

And how about over there?

MOLLY: Oh, an owl.

A very sleepy owl.

[laughing]

[sighs]

You were thinking so hard about what we don't have yet,

you were missing all these beautiful things we do.

I remember Grandma telling me that

when I was worried about missing out.

Ah-hah, that's right.

But our ancestors have been here for thousands of years.

And they taught us if we take care of the land,

the land will take care of us.

And part of taking care of the land

is paying attention to it.

I guess I wasn't really paying attention to

anything but the king salmon.

Well, I do love fresh king salmon.

But you know what I love even more?

Uh, dried king salmon?

[laughs]

You!

And getting to spend time with all of you

on the land of our ancestors.

I'm really glad I get to

spend time with you, too, Uncle Cliff.

How about tomorrow we try not to worry too much

about the king salmon?

Mm-hmm.

Because when we take care of the land...

The land takes care of us.

♪

♪

♪

[sighs]

This has been such an amazing day.

I really love it here.

[eagle chirping]

♪

[gasps]

A feather!

UNCLE CLIFF: Not just any feather.

A ch'izhinfeather.

It's a gift.

A gift from the eagle?

You slowed down and really looked around you.

You've connected with the land.

They are welcoming you.

Who's welcoming me?

The ancestors.

Mahsi'choo.

GRANDPA NAT: Huh.

The net is pretty still.

Might not have anything yet.

[sighs]

Don't worry, Shchada'a.

Even if we haven't caught any luk choo,

we've taken care of the land.

And the land will take care of us.

Yah, your granddaughter's a quick learner.

Must take after her uncle.

[both laugh]

[breeze blowing]

Hey, the cotton's flying again.

[both grunting]

[grunts]: Oh!

Ha.[chuckles]

Lift on three.

One,

two,

three!

[grunting]

[grunting]

[exhales]

Whoa!

There are so many.

[laughs]: There sure are!

The luk choohave come home to the river.

Just like you, Shgguya.

[sighs]

Mahsi'choo, luk choo.

♪