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What It Is At LKSD: Speech Contest, Volleyball, And Wrestling

LKSD Director of Personnel and Student Services Josh Gill hands Jakob Sipary of Napaskiak his first place trophy for English Expository Speaking on December 13, 2017.
Patrick Williams
/
LKSD

This weekend is the 2018 Mixed Six Conference Volleyball Tournament at Bethel Regional High School. Akiuk, Akula, Atmautluak, Kipnuk, Kwethluk, Newtok, Napakiak, Nunapitchuk, Quinhagak, Toksook Bay, Tuntutuliak, and Tununak will be competing for their chance to go to the state Mixed Six Tournament in Anchorage. 

The games will take place on Friday from 3 to 8 p.m. and go all day on Saturday. BRHS and LKSD Ready Academy media students will be live streaming the entire tournament for those who aren’t able to attend in person. Coverage of the games can be found at YouTube.com/LKSDJournalism.

Last week, LKSD hosted their annual high school speech contest. Students from around the district competed in both English and Yup’ik categories. Jakob Sipary of Napaskiak took first place for the second year in a row in the English Expository category. Here is an excerpt from his speech titled "Assimilation: Killing the Indian, Saving the Man."

“According to my very own grandmother, who had no choice but to attend Chemawa Indian School, a boarding school located in Salem, Oregon, her four years were quite unforgettable. In her own words she said 'Yugtun qalartevkaqsaitakut,' which means, ‘They told us not to speak Yup’ik.’ When asked how they were punished, she looked straight into my eyes and remained silent. Those moments of silence were flashbacks of the harsh conditions that she had survived for four long years. My dear grandmother said thousands of our Yup’ik elders and ancestors were extracted from their homes and sent to various boarding schools in Alaska and the lower 48. Out of respect I called off our interview, hoping and praying that I did not cut open old wounds. She made one final comment. She said that she was not allowed to communicate with our family during her duration at Chemawa. She was not allowed to communicate, call, send letters, or be in contact with the ones she held closest to her heart.”

Sipary’s full speech can be found at LKSD.TV.

Bethel Regional High School Wrestlers will be competing at the Lancer Smith Memorial Tournament in Wasilla this weekend. This is a combined tournament of both large and small schools. Good luck, Warriors!

This was Reann and Rosie, and that’s what it is at LKSD.

“What It Is At LKSD” is a weekly roundup of events happening throughout the Lower Kuskokwim School District. The series is produced in partnership with KYUK and LKSD. This week’s episode is brought to you by former KYUK intern Reann Lincoln of Tununak and LKSD Ready Academies Media Program student Roselyn Evan of Mekoryuk. 

Anna Rose MacArthur served as KYUK's News Director from 2015-2022.