Fall is changing to winter weather. Summer went quickly and in most of the state, salmon were a little scarce-and so our “big friends” were more prevalent as they looked for fish and berries along with us!
Dancing with the Spirit is celebrating 12 years traveling and bringing music and dancing to 53 Alaskan villages-most of them many times! Plus we’ve sponsored music camps in Fairbanks, Anchorage, Juneau, Kodiak, Cordova, Navajoland, Canada (the Six Nations Reserve, Whitehorse, and the Midway Festival), New York and Hawaii.
As Edward Alexander in Fort Yukon said, “The students have such joy and the whole community is lifted up when this great music program, Dancing with the Spirit, comes to town.”
Our program started in the Tanana Chiefs Region in Interior Alaska and has been expanding in the past few years to other areas of the state. Three years ago, we won the $25,000 Purpose Prize-definitely a “we” prize! Some of our Dancing with the Spirit staff–the Rev. Trimble Gilbert, Josephine and Jimmy Malemute, Belle Mickelson, and Mike Mickelson flew down to San Francisco to accept the award-and provide Athabascan fiddle music for the 500 attendees at the sold out Encore.org Leadership Conference The prize money was used to reach more villages with school music programs.
Mahsi’ choh, Ana bassee, Quyanaq, Quyana, Gunalcheesh, Haw’aa and Thank You
to all the schools, tribal councils, and individuals who have invested in this program to support healthy living choices with the happiness of music and dancing for village students!
