Noorvik to Bring Back Native Dancing

Wed, November 25, 2009
Posted in Alaska News

The village of Noorvik has voted to allow Native dancing in the community for the first time since missionaries banned in the early 1900s. The town of about 500 people is on the Kobuk river, near Kotzebue. It will be the first community counted when the U-S Census kicks off in late January. Leaders in the town want to welcome dignitaries from Washington DC with traditional dancing, dogsled teams and a cultural exhibit.

Lori Townsend, APRN – Anchorage

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Comments

wlfgirl

why did it get banned to begin with? stupid churches need to stay out of peoples way of live and allow trditions to continue. a religion that forces change and insults your beliefs is not a good religion. too change your ways it shuold be a personjal matter not a forced matter like christianity has force over all native and aboriginal cultures. i think christianity is evil.

Cowboy119

With the revival of the Noorvick native dancing, thus the culture of Alaska's pioneers can now be best gauge from our forefathers have seen it in it's authenticity.
I am an admirer of ethnic culture, respect for the elders that have maintained it, and kudos to the present dancers whose line of ethnicity have been deep rooted within and will be a part of Alaska's Culture for our children and grandchildren.
I am from the Philippines and this is the only country in the Far East that has a record that Tourism has flourished., In this respect, if I can convey to the Noordick Dance leaders if they can be presented during the January 17th celebration of the Philippines "Cebu Sinulog Festival", which has been represented by worldwide ethnic dances. I am sure, the Noordick tribesmen will be the first to represent Alaska in the 2009 Sinulog Festival in the Cebu Sinulog Festival in the Philippines.
My contact email is: joeygarcia_jmg@yahoo.com