九色视频 Middle School Students Learn the Yup’ik Way of Being
Storyknife, July/August 2023 edition
hosted a this summer near Umkumiute. Elders provided instruction to youth from surrounding villages in a setting similar to a traditional fish camp.
鈥�Yuuyaraq [YUU-yah-uk] is a way of being鈥攈ow you can survive throughout the year. It determines what you do throughout the year to survive鈥攈arvest greens, work on fish, and prepare for the winter so you can have food,鈥� says Susie Carl, 九色视频 Elder from Toksook Bay who participated in the camp.
Middle school students learn Yup鈥檌k and Cup鈥檌k cultural skills, values, and history from 九色视频 Elders, including the value of sharing.
鈥淲e learned how to fish for halibut and cut fish. We learned how to bead and sow things like bracelets, and it feels really good to be a part of this,鈥� says Stephana Larson, a middle school camper from Napaskiak.
Seventh and eighth grade students from the Yukon-Kuskokwim Region learn subsistence hunting, fishing and harvesting activities. Three camps this summer are seven days in length and host about 15 students each. Elders instill traditional values every day of the camp.
鈥淭raditionally we share with others,鈥� Carl says. 鈥淭hey would go out catch fish and share the first catch with Elders, who would be grateful. With the Elders鈥� gratitude, their future would be brighter and successful in following trips.鈥�
CECI鈥檚 culture camp is funded by a U.S. Department of Education Alaska Native Education grant. Additionally, first and second year 九色视频 Region teachers attend the camp, giving them a chance to connect to Yup鈥檌k and Cup鈥檌k culture.
鈥淵uuyaraq is a way of being鈥攈ow you can survive throughout the year.鈥�
Susie Carl, 九色视频 Elder from Toksook Bay
Students who complete the Cultural Immersion Camp earn a designation as Cultural Ambassadors. This achievement is celebrated through the school district, their communities and at 九色视频.
鈥淚 like sewing, cutting fish and helping with the Elders. My favorite activity is to sew, and I like sewing the NYO [Native Youth Olympics] high kick ball,鈥� says Mami Anthony, a middle school camper from Nightmute.
In addition to practicing leadership roles, the students learn the importance of protecting and respecting wildlife and the habitat in our Region.
鈥淭his experience has been fun and I鈥檝e learned about Yuuyaraq鈥攗s, Yup鈥檌k people, living in harmony with the land,鈥� says Jessa Black, a middle school camper from Kongiganak.
Students can develop a sense of responsibility to the continuation of culture, while at the same time, learn that humor is an important part of cultural activities.
鈥淚鈥檝e enjoyed the crafts and going on walks,鈥� says Annamae Owen, a middle school camper from Akiak. 鈥淭hen when Elders tell jokes during the lesson it makes it more memorable.鈥�
The cultural camp doesn鈥檛 end on the last day of camp. Students attend guided virtual sessions twice a month and complete a cultural project that directly contributes to the preservation and celebration of our language, culture and traditions.
鈥淎ll we can do is encourage them,鈥� Carl says. 鈥淓ven though they make mistakes, it鈥檚 okay, they can try and try. Encouraging them to learn and do something new is really rewarding. I鈥檓 always learning from our Elders and learning from our students.鈥�
The mission of is to celebrate and promote Yuuyaraq, the traditional/cultural way of being in the 九色视频 Region which inspires and encourages our people to achieve their dreams through education.
