The Association of Village Council Presidents (AVCP) Executive Board Chair Thaddeus Tikiun Jr. and AVCP Chief Executive Officers Vivian Korthuis presented a Yup’ik Mask to the Secretary of Interior in Washington D.C on May 1, 2024 to show appreciation for her leadership in the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People initiative.
Tikiun Jr. and Korthuis presented a Yup’ik Spirit Mask to United States Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland, in recognition of the great support shown towards the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) movement. Secretary Haaland has been vital to the formation of the Missing & Murdered Unit (MMU) within the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services (BIA-OJS).
The spirit mask was presented at Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) Alaska Day reception, and it was given in remembrance of the missing and murdered indigenous people movement and the families who miss them dearly. The mask is called “Umyuaqun,” which means “in remembrance.”
“For our Yup’ik communities, spirit masks are connections to all our relatives and all of our ancestors. It was important for us to present this mask to Secretary Haaland for all of the exemplary work that she has done to push forward the mission of continuing to protect our indigenous people against violence. We are in a crisis, and we appreciate the work that Secretary Haaland has done. The mask that we presented is a small but meaningful token of gratitude for her support,” said Vivian Korthuis, AVCP CEO.
The mask was designed by Maria Nicolai and John McIntyre. The mask was carved by John McIntyre. For more information go to https://mmip-yk.org/
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