General Inforamtion
URBAN UNANGAX̂ CULTURE CAMP
Urban Unangax̂ Culture Camp
Urban Unangax̂ Culture Camp is typically held the 3rd week of June at the Unangam Ulaa (the Home of the Aleuts), APIA’s central headquarters in Anchorage. The camp provides an opportunity for people of all ages to learn about the Aleut culture through hands-on cultural activities and fellowship with the Aleut community. Traditional Aleut practices are integrated to fit into our urban lifestyle, culturally enriching the lives of those who participate.
The free one-of-a-kind camp is open to community members residing in the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Region, the Greater Anchorage area, and the Continental US, and internationally. However, participants are primarily of Unangax̂ or Aleut descent. If too many applications are received, we must give priority to tribal members who are enrolled in one of the thirteen tribes served by APIA.
The camp has become popular. In 2019, the 12th Urban Unangax̂ Culture Camp had 239 participants, the most since camp began in 2008. We received over 250 applications, more than ever before as well. Sadly, due to building capacity and class size limit, we had to deny over a dozen applicants.
The 13th Urban Unangax̂ Culture Camp will be held June 22–26, 2020. Check back in April 2020 for camp applications.
Classes that have been available over the years include (all are not offered every year):
- Bentwood Visor construction
- Traditional Foods
- Drums
- Dance
- Unangam tunuu (the Aleut language)
- Headdress sewing
- Regalia sewing
- Gut and fur sewing
- Jewelry making
- Basket weaving
- Full-size iqyax (kayak) construction
- Wood and Antler Carving
- Model iqyax construction (3 ft)
- Halibut hooks
- Glass ball beading
- Painting
- Native Youth Olympics practice
- Hasxux̂ (spear thrower) practice
PARTICIPANT INFORMATION:
- Youth, ages 11-17, attend daily from 9 am to 5pm. Youth choose 3-5 activities and spend 2 -3 hours daily on each activity so that they can complete at least one art object during the week-long camp.
- Children, ages 0 to 10, attend daily from 9 am to 12 pm. Children rotate hourly between traditional foods, language, dance, and culturally relevant crafts/storytelling. Elders also spend time with children daily to share traditional stories, history, and family genealogy.
- Adults attend daily from 6pm to 9 pm. Adults, 18 an older, may choose from a variety of art and cultural activities. Some adults attend during the daytime as well to participate in activities such as dance, language and traditional foods.
- Elder guests may attend anytime throughout the day.
For questions about APIA’s Urban Unangax̂ Culture Camp, please contact us at culturecamp@apiai.org