ANCHORAGE UNANGAX DANCE GROUP Performs at AFN

ANCHORAGE UNANGAX DANCE GROUP
The Anchorage Unangax Dance group, led by Ethan Petticrew, includes members of all ages from nearly every village in Unangam Tanaa (The Aleutians, Pribilofs, Shumagins and Western Peninsula). To carry on the legacy and fulfill a vision, Ethan, along with several original members of Atx̂am Taliĝiisnikangis (Atka Dancers), formed the Anchorage based dance group about 3 years ago, which now has over 30 members!
Many of the distinctive dances performed by the Anchorage Unangax̂ Dancers were composed by original members of Atx̂am Taliĝiisnikangis including Anakuchax, Kdam Idigaa, Qanglaagix, Qagnax, Aanakliitax, Tan’gaagim Ayagaa, and Tugidam Ayagaa amongst others.
The group is becoming well-known and has been invited to perform all over the state at a variety of events, including the Alaska State Fair and the Alaska Native Science and Engineering gathering. The Anchorage Unangax̂ Dance group carries on the tradition of their predecessor, Atx̂am Taliĝiisnikangis, and leaves audiences in awe with their vibrant and energetic performances!

[@ingvarz7468]

after 10,000 years apart.. Russian natives have the same moves.

[@Rada_Ti]

Алеуты - все алеуты. ☺(привет из России!❤)

[@Josephmalenab]

Quyana thanks Miss afn convention thanks aleut people tshimshan Tlingit Haida inupiat yupik suguit a koniags eyak and the dene people I owe you people for giving me a warm welcome to aleyaska Anchorage for 23 years may 3 1986 to 2009 I miss my adopted inupiat kinda mother Lucy opealuk

[@awesomesaucetastical]

I grew up in a village and I learned aleut dancing...I think it was introduced in my generation to our island...I grew up and these dances were introduced after I had grown out of grade school...I recently saw these dances at the annual Ansep banquet because my daughter attends that school and was impressed. There is so much I still need to know about our culture and my children NEED that...glad I was able to see the explanation of the new dances I’ve seen. My toddler is eager to know her culture...only wish I was presented with the same enthusiasm from my elders when I was so young....thank you for sharing....

[@jahlangley9961]

I am sorry if I sound uneducated but I never got to visit my tribe. I'm 16 yo and I'm only 1/16 native Alaskan, I have learned I descend from Kodiak island so I wanted to ask, what tribe would you think I descend from? My mother was 1/8th however, she passed away so I no longer have anyone to ask and there is very limited information on google about the native Alaskan peoples.

[@thatonenerdinyourclass3381]

Do you some how life on St.Paul or St.George since In grade school they teach us the dances and our language or maybe they do that every where in Alaska?-

[@petergriggs7004]

@@jahlangley9961 we are sugpiaq! very similar to unangax peoples but have some differences as well.

[@awesomesaucetastical]

Iyaqaxx means “oh my gosh” from what I was taught.

[@TradCat1970]

My mother came from Karluk village on Kodiak Island and is from the Reft family 🙂

[@awesomesaucetastical]

I find myself rewatching this video just to understand each dance...it’s funny how you come closer to your end of life on earth how important you feel culture is to you...it’s not funny..it’s sad...wish my elders shared this passion...the passion I feel that my children should know...watching my toddler be thirsty for her culture hurts my heart...because I never had that urge to know my culture... 🤕🥺

[@awesomesaucetastical]

I’m only mid thirties and I feel like I should have been more into my culture. For my children....

[@lydiamilligrock6975]

T THE END OF THIS DANCE, THE LAST DRUMMER IS jO jO, MY GRANDSON

[@missxalim6822]

It's cool to see a tribe north of here and see how similar traditions are. Great performance. (:

[@jdedwards5496]

I've had the privilege to meet the dancers in Bethel Alaska for Camas festival as our dance group was also there. Only one I remember is Mary....

[@lydiamilligrock6975]

my grand daughter Jess in the green head band. her younger bro is amongst the drummers and dancers

[@awesomesaucetastical]

How do we know these new dances are the dances that our ancestors danced....? Makes my heart hurt just thinking that somebody just wants to rewrite history with their own fantasies of how our ancestors lived...just a thought....