At this year’s Camai Dance Festival, we honor how Ap’alluk has contributed to the legacy of dance in our region.
“Ap’alluk, tonight, the stage is filled with people who brim with pride from the knowledge that they are maintaining the cultural traditions that you selflessly passed down to them. Your work in maintaining our Yup’ik language and love of dance has inspired many to continue and build on the solid foundation of your legacy. Quyana cakneq!
Ap’alluk, tamarmeng Akulmiut yuratait, Yugtun qalarcetulit, taringtulit, igatulit-llu piyunarivkaumallruut caliumallruavet nutemllaat ciumurutellerkait pitekluki. Quyavikamteggen elluarrluten paiciucillruavet yumtenun tamalkuitnun akwarpak aturarkamtenek.”
Ap’alluk Levi Hoover
Ap’alluk Levi Hoover of Kasigluk is being recognized as a Living Treasure at the Cama-i Dance Festival this year.
Professional life
Ap’alluk served as an educator in Yup’ik language and culture for decades, beginning in the days when the Bureau of Indian Affairs managed education for tribes in our state. Almost 40 years ago, he helped his community begin the Bilingual Arts Week and invited the Bethel Traditional Dancers to come to Akula to teach yuraq. This was the beginning of the Akula Dance Festival, which later became the LKSD Dance Festival.
Foundational work
Ap’alluk helped coordinate Akula Elitnaurvik’s Bilingual Arts Week, a time in which students engaged in cultural activities including yuraq, arts and crafts, and subsistence education.
For decades, he taught the importance of bilingual education. He made sure all of his students participated in LKSD’s annual Speech Contest in both the Yugtun and English.
Legacy work
Generations of Ap’alluk’s students performed in Camai Dance Festivals in previous decades. His work with elders in the community to preserve the local songs is one of his gifts to future generations. The stage is filled today with the descendants of his students, the product of his work to keep our culture alive.
