Welcome to #focuswesternAk, a collection of photographs from the communities served by KNOM Radio Mission. In early April, KNOM volunteers Laura and Maddie traveled to Bethel for the 2016 Cama-i Dance Festival.
This year’s festival featured more than two dozen groups of performers and celebrated the theme “Nunalgutkellriit Piniutiit Cauyakun”, meaning “Community Strength Through Drumming”. The following photos highlight both the festival and the community of Bethel, a hub of western Alaska.
A view of the frozen Kuskokwim River. (Photo: Laura Kraegel, KNOM)Drummers from the Nunamta Yup’ik Singers and Dancers. (Photo: Laura Kraegel, KNOM)Water bottle art on a tree in Bethel. (Photo: Maddie Winchester, KNOM)Byron Nicholai dances with the Toksook Bay Traditional Dancers . (Photo: Laura Kraegel, KNOM)A drummer helps lead the “Heart of the Drums” event, in which drummers from all the groups performed together. (Photo: Maddie Winchester, KNOM)A decorated dumpster in Bethel. (Photo: Laura Kraegel, KNOM)A dancer from the group Broken Walls performing at the festival. (Photo: Maddie Winchester, KNOM)Melting snow in Bethel. (Photo: Laura Kraegel, KNOM)A performance by the Unangax Dancers, who perform dances from the Aleutian and Pribilof villages. (Photo: Maddie Winchester, KNOM)Originally from Kotlik, Carol dances with the group Broken Walls. (Photo: Maddie Winchester, KNOM)
