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By Tamar Ben-Yosef
Photo from Alaskareal.blogspot
Barrow, Alaska (AP) 1-09
 Determination proved worthwhile for the Suurimmaanitchuat Dancers of Barrow, Alaska.
Thanks to the incessant persistence of one of their dancers, the group will have its 15 minutes of fame by marching in the presidential inaugural parade on Jan. 20 in Washington, D.C.
When Rex Okakok first contacted the parade committee to request a formal invitation to march he was told it was too late to apply. But he did it anyway. And he kept being told it was too late.
But Okakok, a former whaling harpooner, didn’t give up. He sent
requests to several people in the staff hoping one would acquiesce. At
last, one person did agree to review the application but told Okakok
that it was a long shot. But Okakok still didn’t give up.
“I kept calling them and calling them, telling them we are a minority
of minorities. Every day I called and e-mailed,” Okakok said.
“Finally one day they said they would take it to the committee.”
The next morning Okakok got the much desired e-mail – he should expect a formal invitation in the mail in the next few days.
“We found out we are the only AK Native group to participate. We are
very honored and very excited and fundraising like mad,” Okakok said.
The Suurimmaanitchuat Dancers, led by 81-year old Warren Matumeak, has
22 dancers of various ages from several families who will be making the
trip. They have been performing in Alaska for the past 20 years at a
variety of event in Alaska including the Alaska Federation of Natives
Convention in Anchorage, Bethel’s Camai’ Festival, the Kotzebue Trade
Fair and the Barrow-based Kivgiq Messenger Feast.
The group was asked in the summer of 2003 to lead the procession of the
University of Alaska Fairbanks graduation ceremony.They were one of
three Alaska Native dance groups invited to perform at the grand
opening ceremony of the National Museum of the American Indian in
Washington, D.C., and also led the opening procession of the
International Whaling Commission meeting in Anchorage in 2007.
The dancers also have international performances in China on their resume.
The locally-derived songs of the Suurimmaanitchuat Dancers were
composed mainly by original dance group members the late Walter Akpik
Sr. and Warren Matumeak and their forebears, and have their roots in
the northcentral North Slope of Alaska, according to Okakok.
Other songs have been borrowed and exchanged with groups from as far
away as Savoonga, and Chukotka in the Bering Sea and Arctic Canada.
Apart from the traditional Eskimo songs and dances, the group has put
an original, modern twist on their dances and are most known for their
“Elvis” dance. Many of the recently-composed songs are performed with a
smile. One dance, for example, mimics the pre-flight briefing of
airline stewardesses.
Dancing since 1990 The group originated in 1990 to honor the outgoing
mayor of the North Slope Borough during a community event. Okakok said
their intention was just to have fun and make people laugh, but they so
much fun they decided to stick around. With time elders from the
community taught the group their songs and so the repertoire grew.
The Suurimmaanitchuat Dancers will be accompanied by other North Slope
residents who will join in the parade march. In order to accommodate
the elders, Arctic Slope Regional Corp. subsidiaries in the East Coast
have volunteered to build a float especially for the event.
Dressed in Inupiat Eskimo regalia, the dancers will carry a flag
honoring Alaska’s 50th anniversary of statehood as well as other Alaska
symbols.
“It may actually be cold enough to wear our parkas,” Okakok said.
There will not be much time for dancing in the parade, but Okakok said
the group plans to grab the opportunity to perform, even if for a brief
moment, when it’s their turn to walk in front of the presidential
stand. Their leader is busy thinking of a special song featuring
President-elect Barack Obama.
All next week and for the following weeks after, the group and their
friends will put all their efforts into fundraising for the trip. All
expenses need to be covered by the dancers and their chaperones.
The annual Christmas games in Barrow will supply plenty of opportunity
to sell food, but Okakok said they can use all the financial help they
can get. Flying 22 dancers to D.C. is no cheap task.
One other Alaska group will travel to Washington for the ceremony – the
marching band from Colony High School in Palmer was also invited to
march in the parade.
Contributions for the Suurimmaanitchuat Dancers can be forwarded to:
the Native Village of Barrow, Att: Eunice Brower, Box 1130, Barrow
99723. For more information, the group can be contacted by e-mail
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
or by phone at 907-852-4411.
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