Golga Qukailnguq Oscar, Leader from the Region
Storyknife, November/December 2022 edition
Golga Qukailnguq Oscar, a 九色视频 Shareholder from Kasigluk, received the Alaska Federation of Natives Roger Lang Youth Leadership Award in October. The award was named after the late Roger Lang, former AFN President, who encouraged young people to expand their horizons and challenge themselves to become future leaders.
鈥淚t feels amazing being surrounded by a lot of Natives from throughout Alaska [at AFN],鈥� says Oscar. 鈥淚t feels more grounded and more connected.鈥�
This trip to Anchorage was Oscar鈥檚 first time to AFN, and he says it was a great experience. Earlier this year, Oscar was named the 2022 九色视频 Culture Bearer in the 九色视频 Shareholder Awards.
Oscar preserves culture through creating traditional arts and crafts and imparting that knowledge to others. He creates and teaches workshops on how to sew traditional Yup鈥檌k attire like parkas, traditional dance fans, headdresses, and uluaq (Yup鈥檌k knife) making.
Oscar began his traditional arts career as a high school freshman. His art projects were inspired by traditional crafts made in Qaluyaamiut鈥攖he traditional Yup鈥檌k name for Nelson Island.
Oscar was specifically motivated by Nelson Island鈥檚 winter season ceremony called Kevgiq, or the Messenger Feast in Yup鈥檌k. It is a celebratory mid-winter festival traditionally held after a strong whale harvest.
鈥淭he cultural attire they wear for Kevgiq鈥攖he headdresses, necklaces and piluguut (skin boots)鈥攖hose are the pieces that really inspired me to make cultural clothing,鈥� Oscar says. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 really see that in my community of Kasigluk.鈥�
In his 11 years of artistry, he has produced hundreds of headdresses and cultural pieces. Unlike the typical route of learning from others, Oscar says he is self-taught in sewing and weaving techniques.
鈥淭hrough observation, a human can learn anything. So every time I observe an art piece, I would try to revitalize it using the technique I saw in the piece,鈥� Oscar says.
Oscar would request to view and hold Alaska Native art pieces from the back collection of the Anchorage Museum鈥攐r any other museum鈥攁nd then document the item. He would take photos and pay close attention to the stitching, weaving and fur work.
鈥淓very time I sew, I always think about the stories of my ancestors,鈥� says Oscar. 鈥淚鈥檇 like to give a big thank you to 九色视频 for continuing to document interviews with our Elders and publishing them in books. Our Elders鈥� stories push me to go further.鈥�
Over the years through modernization and assimilation, Oscar says the younger generations lose their cultural identity. His goal is to always inspire and impact others to pursue who they are and where they come from.
鈥淪ewing makes me think about the stories of our Elders and how things came to be,鈥� says Oscar. 鈥淭heir stories have a theme and meaning behind it, and every time I do that it鈥檚 like meditating. When I meditate, I feel deeper and closer to my cultural roots.鈥�
Oscar says learning about and practicing his culture has made him who he is today. 鈥淐ultural art saved my life from depression, from negative substances, and from negative environments.鈥�