Yurarpak in Toksook Bay

Delta Discovery article, 2/13/04 by Vanessa Lincoln

Thanks to a break in the weather, people in southwestern Alaska flocked to Toksook Bay to participate in the annual Eskimo Dance Festival.

Eskimo Dance Groups from Tununak, Nightmute, Newtok, Chefornak, Mekoryuk and Toksook Bay warmed the packed Nelson Island School gym throughout the weekend.

Everyone had to brave harsh forty to seventy mile an hour wind gusts outside, along with blowing snow that came and went.

Despite the blizzard conditions, people were full of smiles, and the weekend went on without any travelers getting lost in the storm.

The festival started off with the traditional family dances, where families celebrate the first catch of young ones.

Martina and Paul John's family and relatives were united in Toksook Bay to commemorate the first catch of Stanley Shields, 4, son of Sam and Agatha John-Shields. He had caught his first halibut this summer. The halibut was presented to Nightmute elder Albertina Dull before their dance performance.

Helen John, 5,daughter of Sharon and Mark John, and Alaina Mute, 1, daughter of Anna John, had also celebrated their first dance with their first catch of salmon berries and lush fish.

The Nuniwarmiut Kassiyurtait Dancers of Mekoryuk were invited to perform in Toksook Bay for the first time this year. The dance group was started in November of 2002, and are already well known around the state.

An excited audience applauded and cheered as the Nunivak Island Dancers entered the Nelson Island School gymnasium before their performance in front of the large crowd Friday night. The spectators watched in awe since most of them had never seen their unique style of song and dance before.

"I've been to quite a few gatherings, but I've never seen anything like this! The women are singing instead of the men, and they even tell a short story before the dance," said Nick Cartier while recording the Mekoryuk dancers on tape.

With Sunday marking the final day of the festival, the day started off with the gathering of guests for some great giveaways, donated by locals. It is a tradition to give gifts to the visitors who come for the dance festival. After the dances on Sunday evening, a closing prayer was said to thank the Lord for the successful events, to bless the out of town travelers, and for a safe trip back home.