Cultural Days- Beading and Manaq Poles

Beading- earrings, bracelets, and necklaces.

Notice a pair of long earrings I'm wearing made by a student. "And it's long, and made out of minty floss so if you want to you don't even need to take it out to floss your teeth." So innovative.

An enthusiastic beader.

We all used some cut dowels and string to make ice-fishing poles.

With practice from their spears, they know how to tighten that string on the pole well.

They call the pole a "manaq" in Yupik.

Showing the manaqs on the side of the deck.

Cultural Days- Crocheting and Dance Fans

Second year of attempting crocheting. This time most of us remembered how!

Some of them made necklaces  or dishrags.

After sanding the wood smooth, they painted the base for the fan.

Locals labored hard to cut out a pair for each student.

Some of them painted designs such has hearts or seals on them.

"Is it good enough yet?" "Keep sanding..."

Socializing while having patience to sand.

How do we make them not stick to the paper while drying?

Notice that female dance fans are smaller with two finger holes.

May 8th is pretty late for it to be this white!

Lapp Game- Eskimo Baseball

One of the last days of school the kids played Lapp Game.

Lapp Game is eskimo baseball played with a similar bat and rubber/leather ball.

Before a player bats, the pitcher touches the ball to the bat.

Then the pitcher throws it a couple feet in the air and the batter swings!

If they hit it, they have the option to stay behind home plate.

They can run as a group to the other end to safety, then they have to make it safely home.

All ages of kids and adults play together.

Agnes, our amazing elder, watches and cheers for support.

If an outfielder catches it, the other team is out.

There is only one out before you have to switch.

They love playing Lapp Game outside near the slushy snow.

Other kids cheer them on.

Some kids just play in the cold mud, but everyone has fun!