الوصف
The museum welcomes the Kodiak Alutiiq Dancers to perform traditional and new songs and dances. The final performance on Monday, July 7 at 3 PM ET will be webcast at americanindian.si.edu/livestream. The Kodiak Alutiiq Dancers were formed in 1987 in Kodiak, Alaska. They continue to learn and share their Alutiiq/Sugpiaq ancestral heritage and increase pride through reawakening their dance traditions. The Alutiiq/Sugpiaq people have always danced as a community to perform rituals and ceremony, to share stories, and to entertain each other. Today, the group honors their ancestors by dancing their stories and living their culture.
At the 2025 Smithsonian Folklife Festival (July 2-7), they will also hold dance workshops where visitors can try Alutiiq social dances. Visitors can watch and participate in Kakangaq, a traditional game to hone hunting skills, where players toss disks at a target on a seal hide. In the group’s tent, visitors can see salve making and headdress beading while learning about Alutiiq dress and regalia.