March 15 -17, 2024
Join us at the BRHS gym in Bethel, Alaska
Cama-i Dance Festival
“Yuraq Paiciutekaput ~ Dance is our Legacy”
Join us
The three-day event begins on Friday, March 15th with doors opening at 5 p.m., ending Sunday, March 17th at 9 p.m.
Friday: Doors open 5 p.m.
Dancing begins 5:30 p.m. to midnight
Saturday: Doors open 11:30 a.m.
Dancing begins 12:00 p.m. to midnight
Native foods dinner - 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Please donate food ~ everyone is invited
Sunday: Doors open 12:30 p.m.
Dancing begins 1:00 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Dance Groups Invited
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• Qasgirmiut
• Upallret
• Yurartet
• Delta Illusion
• BRHS Warriors
• Mikelnguut Elitnaurviat
• Ayaprun Elitnaurvik
• Gladys Jung Cranes
• Bethel Filipino Community -
• Kasigluk
• Kwethluk
• Nightmute
• Toksook Bay -
• Kodiak Alutiiq
• Ilaku's Inupiaq
• Byron Nicholai
(I Sing. You Dance.) -
• Sinquah Family Hoop Dancers
• FlowZone Break Dancers -
• Pacific Islands Polynesian Dancers
Yuraq Paiciutekaput
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Dance is Our Legacy
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Yuraq Paiciutekaput • Dance is Our Legacy •
Reserve a craft table.
Full table $50/day or $130 for 3 days | Half table $30/day or $75 for 3 days
Leave a message for Minnie Sallison Fritts
In Yup’ik culture, we embrace each other with a warm and welcoming greeting by offering a handshake accompanied by the exclamation, “Cama-i!”
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Volunteers Needed!
The festival is only possible with generous help from volunteers who give their time and energy so that we can all share in these experiences.
Volunteers work in 3-4 hour shifts.Each volunteer receives a day pass to the event and a Cama-i pin.
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Alaska Airlines Travel Discount
Book your plane ticket on Alaska Airlines now and join us in Bethel! Take advantage of the Alaska Airlines 7% discount code:
ECMK252
(some exclusions apply) if traveling between March 11-21, 2024
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Miss Cama’i Cultural Pageant
Miss Cama-i is a cultural ambassador whose mission is to build leadership and increase community involvement among people of the YK Delta and beyond.
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Artist Vendor Tables
Full table $50/day or $130 for 3 days
Half table $30/day or $75 for 3 daysTable reservation for corporations or orgs: $100/ day or $300 for 3 days.
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Cama’i 2023 Gallery
View Images from last year.
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Sponsor Now
We love our 2024 sponsors!
It is our hope that you will consider
partnering with us to keep regional arts
alive for the coming generations.
2024 Dedication
It is customary for Cama-i to dedicate the event to at least one inspiring individual and pay tribute to the memory of another individual whose legacy helped to shape and preserve our cultural traditions in the delta.
The Camai Dance Festival is honored to dedicate this year’s event in memory of two individuals who have contributed greatly to the legacy of dance in our region – Seliksuyar Bob Aloysius of Bethel and Inuguarpak Stanley Anthony of Nightmute.
Seliksuyar
Bob Aloysius
of Bethel
July 29, 1935 – March 04, 2023
Seliksuyar instructed, “When you dance, use full body movements to tell those stories, do not be afraid to express yourself.” He shared that yuraq creates fellowship, encourages a healthy lifestyle, fosters respect in self and others, inspires change and acceptance and instills pride in being a Native person.”
Inuguarpak
Stanley Anthony
of Nightmute
Dec 23, 1946 – Dec 16, 2023
Inuguarpak was involved in yuraq in his community for over four decades. Sharing cultural knowledge to young people and instructing them on developing their subsistence skills. His love for sharing also lead him to participate in the First Alaskans Institute’s annual Elders and Youth Conference. The amount of effort he put into preserving our ways of life ensured that we keep our legacy of dance.
2024 Living Treasures
We honor our living treasure:
Ap’alluk Levi Hoover of Kasigluk
Generations of Ap’alluk’s students performed in Camai Dance Festivals in previous decades. His work with elders in the community to preserve the local songs is one of his gifts to future generations. The stage is filled today with the descendants of his students, the product of his work to keep our culture alive.
Atrilnguq Joseph Asuluk Sr.
of Toksook Bay
We honor our living treasure:
Atrilnguq’s work in his community has been described as “tireless” by many who have the privilege to know him. He has taken on the responsibilities of leadership in governance, spirituality, advocacy, and freely shares his wisdom and knowledge at various gatherings and events. He encourages and helps to create opportunities for young leaders to practice and develop their skills in his community.
Photo credit: Jimmie Lincoln, Toksook Bay
View 2023 Recap
“Cauyat Ircaquput Mamtelarait ~ Drumming Heals Our Hearts”
