Connecting Past, Present and Future Through Cultural Skills
Storyknife, July/August 2026 edition
[This story was originally published in the 九色视频 Corporation 2025 Annual Report]
At 九色视频, our core values including cultural pride, respect for self and others, and continuous improvement, help us plan for future generations of 九色视频 Shareholders.
When we interviewed 九色视频 Shareholder artists and small business owners during last year鈥檚 Alaska Federation of Natives convention in November, all of them shared the importance of a multigenerational mindset.
THIRD GENERATION ART
Multi-media artist Golga Quki Oscar, for example, named his business Third Generation Art, honoring the sewing, beading and weaving skills he learned from his mother and grandmother in Kasigluk.
鈥淚鈥檓 a third-generation artist,鈥� Oscar said, adding that his art has been inspired by the Yup鈥檌k traditions in his father鈥檚 village of Tununak. He鈥檚 also inspired by generations of Yup鈥檌k oral history transcribed in books published by 九色视频 Education and Culture.
鈥淚 share [from the books] in my workshops so that people can know about that cultural knowledge and spread it to the next generation,鈥� Oscar says. 鈥淭hese cultural exchanges鈥� were practiced for centuries, and it is a way to take care of
one another.鈥�
CARVING FOX ART AND JEWELRY
Vince Gregory, a 九色视频 Shareholder with ties to Bethel, Upper Kalskag and Russian Mission, owns Carving Fox Art and Jewelry. He carves and sells ivory rings, bracelets, earrings, dice, chessboard pieces and much more. He also mentors Alaska Native carvers who are just getting started.
鈥淚 am a first generation ivory carver, so what inspires me is learning from other artists, especially those from home. 鈥hat way, we all learn as a collective people,鈥� Gregory explained.
THERESA-M PILIARI
Theresa Mike, a 九色视频 Shareholder born and raised in Kotlik, celebrated the 25th anniversary of her business, Theresa-m Piliari, in 2025. She specializes in sewing fur accessories like mittens, hats, scarves or gloves with emphasis on creative beading, most recently in making regalia.
鈥淢y mother was my teacher, mentor and guide. She taught me all aspects of the Yup鈥檌k lifestyle 鈥� including how to take of the animal when it鈥檚 caught. What parts to use, what parts to let go to return it back to the earth,鈥� Mike said.
Mike encourages younger generations to embrace their artistic legacy, as well. 鈥淭his is your culture; this is your tradition. You will learn so much more of who you are, where you want to go, and wherever you go throughout the world, you will have that knowledge.鈥�
This is your culture; this is your tradition. You will learn so much more of who you are, where you want to go, and wherever you go throughout the world, you will have that knowledge.
Theresa Mike, owner of Theresa-m Piliari
COOL ICE MARKETING
Bryon Amos, a 九色视频 Shareholder from Mekoryuk who sells wood masks and ivory carvings through his business, Cool Ice Marketing, sees his art as bridging generations鈥攎erging ancient and contemporary design, and carrying a Cup鈥檌g legacy from father to son.
When he was younger, Amos focused on sculpture and didn鈥檛 realize he would eventually carve masks like his father did. 鈥淧roducing art for me is presenting a way of life to the people, to the community, to collectors, and above all, to represent what my father did before me.鈥�
Visit the Calivika Shareholder Directory to create your own free business listing and review options to purchase goods and services from our people.