Making my own Kuspuk

Well, I decided that borrowing a Kuspuk was good, but it would be better to make my own. So, using the Kuspuk that I borrowed, I made a pattern on butcher paper. It was a pretty difficult process. Especially considering that everyone around here can make them in only a couple of hours! Mine took more than a week.......Anyway, I had a few problems, but was able to figure out most of them. There are a lot of people around here who sew (Thanks Linda and Irene), so I had lots of help when needed.

The finished product below: They are meant to fit big. Traditionally, Kuspuk's were worn over many layers of clothing.

Dance Festival

Dance Festival was an amazing time in Stebbins. It is a time when different villages come together to celebrate their cultural dances. This year the villages that came to share their dances were Kotlik, St. Michael, Wales, and Golovin. Apparently there have been as many as twelve schools in the past. Even though the festival was smaller this year, it was amazing to see. Many elders and community leaders came and taught classes on carving, native recipes, making akutag (eskimo ice-cream), drum-making, and skin sewing. Then in the afternoon, all the different groups shared their dancing. All dances tell a story. It is exciting to see all of the amazing traditional dance fans, head-dresses, mukluks, and kuspuks (traditional garments). There are a few pics of the dancing below.

The guys typically dance in the front, and kneel on the ground. Their dance fans are also different than the girls, who stand in the back.
Most of the head-dresses and dance fans are made by the students and their parents. Below is a picture of one of my students who gave me permission to put her picture on the blog.

Heidi and I were lucky enough to get to wear kuspuks to the festival. A friend of ours who works at the school lent us two of hers. Thanks Tessie!