Winners of the Yup’ik Spelling Bee: from left are Pasrata’ar Alayna Canoe, Maqaruaq Tieran Ignatius, and Arnayaraq Kirsten Aakaran Manumik.
Winners of the Inupiaq Spelling Bee: from left are Kakshuk Cameron Tocktoo, Kimasuq Danielle Tocktoo, and Kopeck Kaitlyn Alston. Photos courtesy of Freda Dan
The 11th annual Yup’ik and 2nd annual Iñupiaq Statewide Spelling Bee for Beginners was held at the Central Lutheran Church in Anchorage, Alaska on April 15th. Spellers from third to eighth grade are eligible to compete and the top three spellers from each school can compete in the statewide spelling bee. Please note that the spellers’ traditional Yup’ik and Iñupiaq names are listed first followed by their Western names.
2022-2023 Yup’ik and Inupiaq Spelling Bee Results
Yup’ik Spelling Division
1st place:
Pasrata’ar Alayna Canoe
8th grade, Nunam Iqua School
Lower Yukon School District, Nunam Iqua
2nd place:
Maqaruaq Tieran Ignatius
8th grade, Nunam Iqua School
Lower Yukon School District, Nunam Iqua
3rd place:
Arnayaraq Kirsten Aakaran Manumik
6th grade, Nunam Iqua School
Lower Yukon School District, Nunam Iqua
Iñupiaq Spelling Division
1st place:
Kakshuk Cameron Tocktoo
Bering Straits School District, Brevig Mission
2nd place:
Kimasuq Danielle Tocktoo
6th grade, Brevig Mission School
Bering Straits School District, Brevig Mission
3rd place:
Kopeck Kaitlyn Alston
6th grade, Brevig Mission School
Bering Straits School District, Brevig Mission
Full List of Spellers
Yup’ik Spelling Division
Akiachak School
Coaches: Janice George
Cagluaq Connar Snyder, 8th grade
Caqluaq Brooke Laraux, 8th grade
Kiarri Holly Laraux, 8th grade
Akiak School
Coach: Debra Jackson
Cakiller’ Megan Carl, 4th grade
Cungauyar Sammy G. Jackson III, 7th grade
Tuuya Darrel Owen, 4th grade
Nunam Iqua School
Coach: Savanna Strongheart
Maqaruaq Tieran Ignatius, 8th grade
Pasrata’ar Alayna Canoe, 8th grade
Arnayaraq Kirsten Akaran Manumik, 6th grade
Tukurngailnguq School
Coaches: Becky Atchak, Minnie Aluska
Pilinguasta Brennan Paje, 6th grade
Kalirtuq Natalie Mike, 8th grade
Iñupiaq Spelling Division
Brevig Mission School
Coach: Angie Alston
Kopeck Kaitlyn Alston, 6th grade
Kimasuq Danielle Tocktoo, 6th grade
Kakshuk Cameron Tocktoo, 8th grade
Congratulations!
