Festival of Native Arts celebrates Native vision

Submitted by Marmian Grimes
Phone: (907) 474-7902
02/27/07

The University of Alaska Fairbanks will host the 34th annual Festival of Native Arts March 1-3 in the Charles Davis Concert Hall. Festivities will begin at 6 p.m. each day and will continue until midnight.

This year’s theme is "Shape Our Visions Through Native Eyes."? More than two dozen Native dance groups and 40 Native artisans are expected to participate this year, providing attendees with a diverse array of Native culture. Audience members are encouraged to arrive early to dance events, as seating is limited. All events are free and open to the public.

This year’s festival is dedicated to Oscar "Angayuqaq"? Kawagley, a retiring UAF associate professor. Kawagley was born in Mamterilleq, now known as Bethel. His grandmother raised him and encouraged him to pursue an education. Kawagley went on to earn four degrees, including a Ph.D. at the University of British Columbia in 1993, and publish a widely-read book, "A Yupiaq Worldview: A Pathway to Ecology and Spirit."? Kawagley has served as a faculty member in the UAF School of Education for 15 years and was co-director of the Alaska Rural Systemic Initiative and the Alaska Native Knowledge Network for 12 years.

Native students and Student Orientation Services at UAF established the Fairbanks Festival of Native Arts in 1973 to preserve Native cultural expression. Originally, the festival focused each night on a specific Alaska Native culture. Today, the festival has grown in its depth and focus, featuring Native dance groups from around the state. Native artisans specialize in arts and crafts from multiple indigenous cultures.

The Festival of Native Arts is the result of months of work by student and community volunteers, in cooperation with local, federal and state organizations.

CONTACT: Call (907) 474-6889 or 474-7181, or write to: to Festival of Native Arts, c/o Alaska Native Studies, P.O. Box 756300, Fairbanks, Alaska, 99775-6300 or e-mail to festival@uaf.edu. UAF public information officer Marmian Grimes at (907) 474-7902 or via e-mail at marmian.grimes@uaf.edu.

ON THE WEB: www.alaska.edu/uaf/festival/