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Arts & Culture

Stories about the arts and culture.

Digital Restoration of The Drums Of Winter Deepens Colors, Brings Light To Shadows

By • May 15, 2017
Cecelia Martz (left) and Len Kameraling discuss the film The Drums of Winter after a screening of the digitally restored documentary at the Bethel Cultural Center on May 12, 2017. Cecelia Martz is a retired UAF Kuskokwim University Campus professor of Ant
Dean Swope / KYUK Public Media

One of the most significant films about Yup’ik culture has been digitally restored. The Drums of Winter is an award-winning documentary shot in Emmonak 40 years ago that tells the story of Yup’ik dancing and potlatching between Emmonak and Alakanuk. After three years of restoration work, it's now being shown around the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta.


Uksuum Cauyai: The Drums Of Winter, 40 Years Later

By • May 12, 2017

Filmed in Emmonak 40 years ago, The Drums of Winter tells the story of dancing and potlatching between Emmonak and Alakanuk. Filmed in collaboration with the communities, the story remains relevant and authentic today. The documentary has received some of film's highest honors, including being added to the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry in recognition of its value to American culture. Now, the film has been digitally restored and is touring the Delta. KYUK sits down with some of the people behind the screenings to discuss the significance of the film and what we can learn from it today.


Carrying On The Legacy Of Yuyaraq, The Way Of Life

By Christine Trudeau • May 8, 2017
Katie Basile / KYUK

After this year's Yup'ik Heritage Week at Bethel Regional High School, a three-day Yuraq Yup’ik Dance Festival took place in the school gymnasium.

Dancers have come from villages across the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta for this year’s Dance Festival. This is the first year Yuraq has been held in Bethel, as it has traveled in the past from village to village. It’s one of the few times of year when groups can come together, listen to songs from other villages —some they may have never heard before—, and even join in with other dance groups.

Photos and Video: Cama'i Dance Festival 2017

By • Apr 3, 2017
Katie Basile / KYUK

Families from across the Y-K Delta reunited both on and off stage at the 2017 Cama'i Dance Festival over the weekend of April 1. 

Celebrating Cama'i 2017: Footage of Maryann Sundown and Agnes Aguchak

By • Apr 1, 2017
KYUK

"The original meaning (of dance) is to entertain people. You have to make your teasing cousins laugh," says Ayaprun Loddie Jones.

Jones is the daughter of the late Maryann Sundown of Scammon Bay. In her lifetime, Sundown may have been the most famous dancer in Alaska, and a true celebrity at the annual Cama'i Dance Festival. 

Nunaniryuum Nalliini, The Time of Joy: Getting Ready for Cama-i 2017

By • Mar 30, 2017
Dean Swope / KYUK

The 2017 Cama-i Dance Festival begins Friday at the Bethel Regional High School. The weekend-long cultural celebration marks the largest annual gathering of Alaska Native dance in the world.


Celebrating Cama'i 2017: Archived Footage of the Seal and Owl Masks

By • Mar 29, 2017
KYUK

In this video we take another look at the 1984 documentary "Eyes of the Spirit" to share dance performances that incorporate the seal and owl masks. 

Sue Charles and John Active, who took part in both performances in the film, discuss the significance of dancing with masks.

Celebrating Cama'i 2017: A Look At KYUK's Video Archives

By • Mar 28, 2017
KYUK

To celebrate the 28th annual Cama'i Festival, KYUK is sharing clips of dance footage from our video archives.

The 1984 film "Eyes of the Spirit," produced by KYUK, documents the revitalization of dancing with masks in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.

New York Student Probes Yup'ik Objects And Finds Still Living Relationships

By Johanna.Eurich • Mar 20, 2017
Smithsonian Institute

A woman who studies museum collections made a trip to Bethel from New York City this March, seeking to learn more about things she had been looking at in back rooms and exhibition halls on the East Coast. What these things said about the people who made them and their relationship to seals brought her to the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. 

Calista Looks To Recognize Best In Region

By Johanna.Eurich • Mar 14, 2017
Calista Corporation

The Calista Corporation is looking for the best of the region's shareholders and descendants to recognize. The corporation wants to honor them with not only a plaque for the wall, but also $1,500 to put in the bank.

Calista is looking for people who lead and inspire. The nominating committee is looking for five different kinds of excellence: a culture bearer of the year, a distinguished shareholder, an elder of the year, a youth/educator of the year, and a business of the year.

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