Leadership

The word Yup'ik comes from the Yup'ik words 'yuk', meaning 'person', and 'pik', meaning 'real'. Together it translates into 'real' or 'genuine' person. 

The Yupiit are the Native descendants of Alaska -- the first inhabitants since the Ice Age -- live contemporary lives on the land, in the villages, and in urban communities. Customary ties to the place, family, and traditional values co-exist with new technologies, the global economy, and Western educational system. A young, fast-growing Akiak population is charged with reconciling the gift of culture with both rapid change and the lingering scars of history. Strengthening Native cultures, languages and identities is an essential part of the way forward.