✨SWAAG’s Best in the West - Artist Entreprnuer program has awarded Alice Nanuk of Hooper Bay $2,000 toward her business Indigenouz Creationz.

💗Alice will be using these funds to work on a specific project within her business — creating traditional cloth parkas with a fur ruff. She is excited to use patterns from Inupiaq parkas she learned how to make while living in Anaktuvuk, that have been sewn across generations.

✨SWAAG’s Best in the West - Artist Entrepreneur program has awarded Diane McEachern and Esther Green $4,000 to start their business project.

💗They will be using the funds to work on a specific project — a book of reflections titled “Pocket Elder: Yup’ik Wisdom for Everyone”. Their book will be in both English and Yugtun with translations by Alice Rearden. As a Yup’ik Elder in the classroom of rural Indigenous adult learners, Esther’s ability to provide wisdom is a gift. Together, Esther and Diane decided to capture these teachings in a book of reflections. Diane’s photography of tundra berry blossoms, flowers, salmon, birds and general flora and fauna from the surrounding tundra will also be featured.

This book will distill meaningful and meditative anecdotes from thier friendship and their podcast, Ikayutet.

✨SWAAG’s Best in the West - Artist Entrepreneur program has awarded Paul Basile of Bethel $5,000. These funds will support Northern Casual Music & Audio, an umbrella business for his musical career as a songwriter (writing, recording and performing original music), as well as providing audio engineering services for hire in Bethel.

💗 As the frontman and primary songwriter of the band Great Elk, Paul will be using these funds to work on an in-progress recording project. Be on the lookout for the results of this work in 2025.

✨SWAAG’s Best in the West - Artist Entrepreneur program has awarded Susan Jones $4,200 in support of growing her current business, Designs By Suz.

💗Susan Jones is a Cup'ik Alaska Native raised along the Kuskokwim River in rural Alaska. She was gifted the Yup'ik name Kaukaq. Her family originates from Nunivak Island, near Mekoryuk, Alaska.

As a self-taught beader, Susan creates beautiful woven jewelry. In the rich desire to connect with her heritage and cultural roots came hours of research, reflection and design inspired by ancestral art pieces from her mothers’ birthplace. Susan’s work provides visual narratives of historical art crafted with a combination of modern techniques, traditional materials and careful designs. In an effort to preserve cultural legacies of Cup’ik and Yup’ik peoples, cultural expression is at the heart of many of her contemporary creations.

Susan will be using these funds to purchase new equipment that will allow her to expand into acrylic earrings, engraved wooden cabochons, and brass/metal frames. She will also offer tutorials and courses on her website.

✨SWAAG’s Best in the West - Artist Entrepreneur program has awarded Dianna Kristeller $3,150 in support of her new Longarm Quilting Services business. Dianna writes, “making art is an optimistic act, a hopeful act.” She believes that “creativity is an essential part of the human experience.”

💗Dianna recently purchased a longarm quilting machine, and will be using the funds to secure a series of continuing education modules that will help her master new techniques. Once complete, Dianna will have quilting services available for hire in Bethel. Her business offers a solution to all lcoal quilt makers who have pieced together a quilt top but stored it away unfinished. One open, you’ll be able to hand off your pieced top, and get back a completed quilt!

✨SWAAG’s Best in the West - Artist Entreprnuer program has awarded Pam Conrad of Bethel $2,700 to support her culinary business, Munchees Food Wagon.

💗Pam will be using these funds to provide necessary updates to her food truck to get it back on the road. This “pop-up” truck will continue to feature “made from scratch food, with plant based, and comfort food options”. Pam is also excited to expand her menu with baked goods with the potential for hommade donuts. Once the upgrades are complete, expect to see Munchees out for food service 1-2x per month throughout the year.