AkNOS is inspired by the strength of Alaska Native/Native American cultural traditions that are thousands of years old but student competitors bring those traditions into a modern setting through their speeches. Student competitors weave their own life experiences and interests into each speech and "speak from the heart," as they are encouraged to do by many Elders. The speeches become powerful pathways for a variety of issues and concerns facing Alaska Native/Native Americans today. African American, Alaska Native, Caucasian, Cup'ik, Yup'ik, and Inupiaq students gave a total of 10 speeches in this year's AkNOS Southcentral Regionnal Competition. Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. James Liszka, opened this year's competition by relating his own experiences in learning about Alaska Native/Native American ways of speaking. He shared that he has started to use some of these speaking styles in his own life. The student competitors listened attentively as he gave them encouragement. AkNOS Director, Dr. Nancy J Furlow, related a story about attending her grandson's class circus performance the evening before. The performance was filled with light, movement, color, but most of all playfulness and joy. Another story about the Alaska Native music and dance traditions illustrated the power and commitment of those traditions. Student competitors were urged to draw upon strength and power of our cultural traditions but to remember the joy and playfulness that our ancestors also included. Haida Elder Julia Coburn joined our celebration of speeches, along with 10 judges, family and audience members. All of us were there to support the growth and development of our future leaders. We know that their experience in AkNOS will help them to speak both effectively and powerfully here at UAA but also as they move into their future careers.
 Special Thank You to the Following Supporters, Businesses Individuals, Interns, AkNOS Judges, and Volunteers. Your continued support makes it possible to hold AkNOS Competitions.We would also like to express our thanks to the following groups: UAA Chancellor Fran Ulmer, Dean Liszka and the College of Arts and Sciences, Alaska Native Studies, Communication and Discourse Studies, Chancellor’s Strategic Opportunity Fund, our generous individual Donors, the Center for Advancing Faculty Excellence, Native Student Services, AHAINA, the Cama-i Room and Karla Booth, the Office of Campus Diversity and Compliance and Marva Watson, UAA Advancement, Hula Hands, Orso’s Glacier Brewhouse, Gwinnies, Bear Tooth, Mooses Tooth, Great Harvest Bread Company, Dos Manos Art Gallery, Sea Galley, Glacier, and Kaladi Brothers. Phone: (907) 786-6148 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Southcentral Regional 2011 Awards and Highlights
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