* Appropriate for grades 5th - 12th These glowing lights appear in the night sky in the far north. The Iñupiat have observed the northern lights for centuries. The Iñupiaq word for northern lights is kiubiyaq. According to the Iñupiaq oral tradition, kiubiyaq are the spirits of ancestors. The spirits are playing a game of kickball in the sky. Some Iñupiaq stories about the kiubiyaq help to teach important lessons for children. The stories also reveal information about the lights such as when they are visible, what shapes they take in the night sky and more.