The 2023-2024 Yup’ik and Iñupiat statewide spelling bees were held on Saturday, April 13th at the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program’s Acceleration Academy building on the UAA campus in Anchorage. This year the spelling bees had a record number of schools and spellers participating furthering Indigenous language accomplishments and learning.
Below are the results of this year’s spelling bees, courtesy of Spelling Bee Organizer Freda Dan. A livestream of the spelling bees may be found on the Alaska Native Language Spelling Bee for Beginners Facebook page: https://fb.watch/rq-DBUEnAX/.
IÑUPIAT SPELLING BEE Results
The winners of the statewide Iñupiat spelling bee, with the Iñupiat names first and the English name in parentheses:
Aġnauraq (Jaeleen Holder)
Uluġina (Annabeth Huntington)
Both Iñupiat spellers were from Kéet Gooshi Héen Elementary School in the Sitka School District, coached by Suzzuk Mary Huntington.
YUP’IK SPELLING BEE Results
The winners of the statewide Yup’ik spelling bee, with the Yup’ik name first, English name in parentheses:
1st Arnayaraq (Kirsten Akaran Manumik), 7th grade
Nunam Iqua School, Lower Yukon School District
2nd Pilinguasta (Brennan Paje), 7th grade
Tukurngailnguq School, Stebbins, Bering Straits School District
3rd Cukanraq (Jaylynn Strongheart), 5th grade
Nunam Iqua School, Lower Yukon School District
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This year’s spelling bee had a record 21 Yup’ik spellers from five districts and eight schools. Below is a list of this year’s state spelling bee participants and their coaches.
Yupiit School District
Arlicaq School, Akiak
Coach: Ada Jasper
Cakiller’ (Megan Carl), 5th grade
Qakvalria (Cray Philip), 5th grade
Arnaurluq (Sonya Jackson), 5th grade
Tuluksak School, Tuluksak
Coach: Ruth Napoka
Nug’ur (Calvin Allain), 6th grade
Araiyar (Roxann Alexie), 8th grade
Akiachak School, Akiachak
Coach: Henry Kanulie
Caurluq (Brianna Snyder), 5th grade
Aqsatuyaq (Jacelyn Frank), 7th grade
Anguk’aq (Chassidy George), 7th grade
Lower Yukon School District
Nunam Iqua School, Nunam Iqua
Coach: Savanna Strongheart
Cukanraq (Jaylynn Strongheart), 5th grade
Arnayaraq (Kirsten Akaran Manumik), 7th grade
Qiatuaq (Jayden Strongheart), 4th grade
Alakanuk School, Alakanuk
Coach: Kenneth Lee
Lertuli (Ian Agayar), 7th grade
Suqaapiaq (Charity Westlock), 6th grade
Carayak (Kian Beck)
Cherilee Buster, 5th grade
Lower Kuskokwim School District
Ayaprun Elitnaurvik, Bethel
Coach: John Chakuchin
Narr’aq (Alicea Nick), 8th grade
Ciugun (Jesslyn Paul), 6th grade
Cakayak (Nolan Nicholas), 5th grade
Dillingham City School District
Dillingham Middle School
Coach: Katarina Mowrer
Palakia (Alora Wassily), 8th grade
Anaanacuaq (Bridget George), 8th grade
Bering Straits School District
Tukurngailnguq School, Stebbins
Coaches: Qanikcaq Rebecca Atchak and Minnie Aluska
Pilinguasta (Brennan Paje), 7th grade
Keggutailnguq (Natasha Raymond), 7th grade
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