The district and statewide Yup’ik Spelling Bees for Beginners are cancelled in response to social distancing measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The district tournament was planned for March 18 in Nunam Iqua, with the statewide competition scheduled to follow later this spring in Anchorage. Organizer Freda Dan said that the first Inupiaq Spelling Bee for Beginners has also been cancelled. The spelling bees serve to promote Yup'ik and Inupiaq literacy.
