特集にあたって(<特集1>アイヌのオーラル・トラディション)

抄録

At the 7th annual convention, a symposium and performance were held with "The Oral Tradition of the Ainu" as the main theme. Six speakers demonstrated the Ainu people's diverse oral tradition through narratives, poetry readings as well as songs. In addition to facilitating an appreciation of the richness of their cultural heritage, their respective life histories revealed complicated socio-cultural as well as political agendas they have confronted over the years as well as how they continue to cope with them at present. Mr. Hideo Akibe discussed the contradiction the Ainu people face when they engage in the tourism industry as their profession, which requires them to cater to tourists while maintaining their cultural traditions. Ms. Rueko Osuga talked about her experiences with her Ainu grandparents during her early childhood and told the stories passed down from them. Her folklore-style narrative fascinated the audience. Her eagerness to master the Ainu language later in her life as "language is the soul of the race," is something all oral historians would agree with. Mr. Masashi Kawakami is a young Ainu who is eager to learn Ainu culture after he had grown up. His vivid recital of a yukara reflected this enthusiasm. Ms. Tomoko Keira showed pride in being an Ainu woman. She has infused her independent spirit and energy into her personal activity within Yai Yukara no Mori, an Ainu culture preservation group, which she launched in Sapporo. Professors Toshiro Tsumagari and Toru Shimizu, the commentators of the symposium, helped provide us with a wider context in which the current Ainu agendas could possibly be understood. Ainu Studies scholars recognize the usefulness of oral history as a methodology that provides a deeper understanding of modern Ainu history. The brief but rich oral histories told at the symposium clearly demonstrated the usefulness of oral history as a methodology and the opportunities to be further explored by recording the diverse voices of the Ainu people.