Quyana

The Kingikmiut Dancers and Singers of Anchorage formed in 1990. While the members live in Anchorage, the home heritage community is Wales, Alaska. Most members were either born at Wales or are descendants; others are married to members or adopted by the group. At the time of formation, the original Wales songs had not been performed in public for 50 years.

The group would like to thank its Elders who remembered and recalled enough songs and dances to re-start the group. They would like to give a special thanks to the following Elders for teaching them: Paul Tiuliana and Simeon Pushruk of King Island for their encouragement; Eva Oxereok, Jonah Tokienna, and Pete Seradalook of Wales, Freida Larson of Nome, and Cecelia (Nunooruk) Smith, the group’s current teacher.

Please note this group does not represent Wales, Alaska. The original Kingikmiut Dance Group is organized and based at Wales, Alaska today. The group thanks them for allowing them to share the Kingikmiut name.

Also, the group is aware that the continuation their language is in critical danger. This year begins their determination to prioritize the retention of its Kingikmiut dialect.

The Ahtna Heritage Dancers are made up of youth, ages 5-18, from all throughout the Ahtna region. The dancers are proud to be learning their traditional songs and dances, as well as the Ahtna language and values that come with them, and they are excited to have the opportunity to share their heritage with others.

The Cordova Ikumat Dance Group was formed in 1997 with the help of the late Lydia Robart of Port Graham.

The group has been very fortunate to have many dance groups share and hand down songs for them to perform and sing. These songs originate from all over Alaska.

The Cordova Dance Group has performed for several events throughout Alaska over the years. They write, “We are proud and very fortunate to have our young people continue to participate in the dance group and now they are moving into the leadership role. They are helping with the development of new songs and dances, one of which will be performed this evening. A few years ago we introduced adults into the dance group and have had the unique experience of the youth being in the teaching position.”

The dance group is an open membership and has a wide representation of Native cultures including Athabascan, Aleut, Sugpiaq, Eyak and Tlingit as well as other diverse cultures.

Waqaa! The Chevak Ayagyuat Dancers hail from Chevak, Alaska. “Ayagyuat” means “Youth” in the Cup’ik Language. Youth members range in age from 12 to 17 years old. They have come together in hopes to keep traditional dances going for the next generations to come.

The Noolaagh Doh Dance Group comes from the Native Village of Nulato; located in the interior along the Yukon River. Noolaagh Doh means “Dog Salmon Camp” named by the families migrating with the seasons. The group writes that “Nulato is one of the two villages known for the Stickdance Ceremony; the most honorable and remarkable of our culture. All of these songs that the group will perform are memorial songs, composed for late family members. We strongly believe in our youth and Elders, we are proud and honored to be here sharing a part of our culture and traditions. Eena Massee’”

Kigiqtamuit Aġġizruat was revived from its late Elders that have passed on, Esau Weyiouanna, Edgar Ningealook, Davis Sockpick, Charley Okpowruk, Jack Ningealook, and many others. The groups would like to thank Mary Huntington for assisting them with keeping the dancing alive. They would like to say, “We are very proud to highlight our youth so our tradition will be just as strong as our ancestors. We travel to many festivals around our region and the state of Alaska. Thank you for having us here and enjoy.”

The Mount Saint Elias Dancers are a Tlingit group from Yakutat, Alaska which is located on the Northern end of the Southeast Alaskan panhandle, just north of Juneau.

In the early 1950’s, the Elders of Yakutat decided to preserve the collective history and songs by joining the local clans together and starting a dance group. They took the name of the Mount Saint Elias Dancers after the eighteen-thousand- and eight-foot mountain that stands straight out of the icy waves of Yakutat.

Today the group can be as large as 90 dancers of all ages. They strive to continually mentor young Tlingit leaders. This has allowed the group to thrive for over 60 years.

Their regalia are a distinctive Tlingit style, and show the influence of their ancient trading partners and neighbors, the Athabaskan. Some of the regalia worn at Quyana has been dancing for more than 6 generations. Several of the songs that the will group sing are ancient trade songs, or have been won by the Yakutat Tlingit from the Athabaskan, Tsimshian, and Aleut. Many of the songs and movements are more than 1,000 years old.

The group that travels to AFN this year is young and strong. They love to sing and dance what their grandparents have protected for them.

Ciuliamta Piciryarait translates to "The traditions of those before us." The majority of the group is from the Lower Yukon area of Alaska. The group was created to preserve and pass on to the next generation, the songs their ancestors danced, and the values and traditions which are part of the Yup’ik people of Southwest Alaska.

The Amaguayaat Dancers are comprised of Eben Hopson Middle School students from Utqiagvik. Amaguayaat means “young wolves” in the Inupiat language. This group was created in the last school year under the valued guidance of their now retired ilisaurri (teacher) Beverly Hugo to whom they would like to say, “Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all of your support and letting us sing and drum to our heart’s content in your classroom.” In the past, the group has performed at the 2018 Elders and Youth Conference in Utqiagvik, the 2018 Festival of Native Arts in Fairbanks, and for many school events. They love to learn traditional songs and dances, and are humbled to share them with you tonight. Quyanaqpak!

Naa Luudisk Gwaii Yatx'i translates from Tsimshian, Haida, and Tlingit to Children of the Islands who continue to learn. The dance group was founded in June of 1996 in Anchorage, Alaska. It is a cultural, educational, and non-profit organization whose mission is to actively involve youth and adults in traditional songs and dance. To achieve this goal, the dance group discourages the use of alcohol and drugs.

The group’s members are descendants of Southeast Alaska based out of Anchorage. Members are Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, Yup’ik, Inupiaq, Athabaskan, Mexican, Asian, European, and lower 48 Native.

They are guided by Tlingit Elder Shirley Kendell, Haida Elder Walter Graham Sr., and Tsimshian Elder Janet Graham.

The group has performed at schools, prisons, totem pole raisings, local, and national and international gatherings as far as Mexico and Japan to show its cultural diversity.

They will perform Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian and trade songs.

The Anchorage Unangax Dancers were formed several years ago, so that children living far from Unangam Tanaa, the Unangax homeland, could participate in their culture. The group has grown over the years, and is proud to represent every Unangax tribe and village. The dancers descend from villages throughout the Aleutian Islands, Pribilof Islands, Shumagin Islands and the western Alaska Peninsula, as well as the Commander Islands in Russia. Excluding the Koryak trade song, the group will perform songs composed in Atka by Anakuchax, Kdam Idigaa, Qanglaagix, Qagnax, Aanakliitax, Tang^aagim Ayagaa, Tugidam Ayagaa, and others.

Dlul Hutaaneets Hut’aane Ch’egedelee is the Koyukon name of our traditional dance group, which translates in English to “Rampart People are Singing.” During the Gold Rush Era in the early 1900’s, Rampart was listed as the second largest city in Alaska with a population of over 10,000 residents. At that time, the native village was located across the Yukon River from the current location of Rampart. In 2013, Rampart had nine residents, no school, no store, and was in danger of extinction. A young and motivated leader began working for the tribe and started a revitalization effort that continues today. There are currently 63 residents in Rampart, our school has re-opened after a 15-year closure, we have a local store and many programs serving our tribal members. We are a new dance group, and some of our songs were composed as a group and are native to Rampart. Rampart hasn’t had a traditional dance group in over 100 years. We have 100% participation of the students at Rampart School.

The Nelson Island Dancers were created back in the fall of 2004 for the students of Nelson Island School in Toksook Bay.

The Nelson Island Dancers performed at Cam’ai in Bethel for the first time in 2005. They later performed at the State Native Youth Olympics Championship in Anchorage from 2005-2009.

In 2010, they performed for the Alaska Association of School Boards for the annual meeting in Anchorage. The dance group has performed for the local community and the Lower Kuskokwim School District Dance Festival held each year.

In Spring 2015, the team was given the chance to perform once again in Bethel for Cam’ai. They have also performed at AFN in the past.

The dance team is fortunate to be able to keep the culture going and thrilled to perform for you once again.

Naapaqtugmiut’s journey begin in Kotzebue at the NANA Museum in 1999. Amil Burns and a few of his cousins took what they learned from Martin Woods and David Melton and brought it back to Noatak and started a group. The Naapaqtugmiut Dancers started in the summer of 2005. Their first practice was at the river bank in front of Noatak with just six people. With the help of the Noatak Elders and IRA they started having practices at the IRA building once a week.

After a few years of practice the Naapaqtugmiut Dancers got their first opportunity to perform for the public at Qatnut in Kotzebue and Kivgiq with the Kotzebue Northern Lights Dancers. The group has grown and continues to grow to this day, the youngest dancer is 4 years old. The group would like to thank you for this opportunity to perform in its first AFN appearance.