Arts & Culture

At the last minute, Chefornak dancers canceled their appearance at last year’s Cama-i Dance Festival when Tribal Council President and drummer Walter Lewis died suddenly in a snowmachine accident. This year, Cama-i dedicated the gathering to Lewis’ memory. 

This year’s Cama-i theme was “Together We Dance As One.” The unifying message inspired artist Sivaluaq Jerry "Bucket" Lieb to design the festival’s spirit mask around the story of how people gave up fighting to dance and sing. Lieb told KYUK the story behind the image.

Chevak never stopped dancing. When the missionaries came, the villagers buried their drums, later unearthing them to continue their dance tradition. This year’s Cama-i’s Living Treasure, Cikiigaq Joe Ayagarak Jr. of Chevak, inherited that tradition. In the 1980s he brought it to Kwethluk, where it’s continued ever since. This year, Ayagarak Jr. met his legacy on the Cama-i stage.

Friday begins the cultural explosion of the Cama-i Dance Festival. The dancing begins this evening at 5 p.m. at Bethel Regional High School and will last through the weekend until late Sunday night. Dance groups from across the region, the state, and the lower 48 are gathering to share dance, culture, tradition, and community. Across the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, dancers are getting ready to take the stage.

January 19 marks a Russian Orthodox holy day. In Bethel, Russian Orthodox Christians commemorated the day by re-enacting the baptism of Jesus Christ on the frozen Kuskokwim River.

Christmas isn’t over yet, as many on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta know. The Russian Orthodox Church is preparing for its big celebration, which includes Orthodox members and non-members going door-to-door, singing and feasting with neighbors. KYUK’s Krysti Shallenberger talked with Father Michael Trefon about what to expect this year, and about some of his favorite memories from past Slaviqs. 

Over the New Year’s holiday, members of the Bethel community came together to create Something Very Beautiful. That name, “Something Very Beautiful,” is the title of local artist Josh Fisher’s recent art exhibit: a larger-than-life, glowing cube. The Bethel community picked up paint brushes and markers to help Fisher with his piece, which has been in the works for more than a decade.

If you were driving by the Bethel courthouse Wednesday evening, you may have noticed a crowd. If you were lucky, you may have caught sight of the first lighting of the city Christmas tree.   If you missed it, just close your eyes and imagine being there while listening to this audio snapshot.