Posted 10-22-09

Alaska Day Parade

by Erin Andrews

One of the highlights of the Alaska Day festivities was the Alaska Day parade on Sunday. MEHS students were granted early town leave at 12:30pm to secure their positions in the parade line up as performers or to secure their positions along the parade route as observers. MEHS was well represented in the parade with three dance groups and the SYFR (Sitka Youth First Responders) team. Lots of MEHS staff, both on shift and off shift were there to see students marching.

The MEHS Inupiaq Dance Group led the way.

Pictured are dance group members Celeste Mendalook, Sami Schaffer, Inupiaq Dance Group Advisor and new RLP Karissa Hauck, Maggie Ahkavaluk, Malorie Johnson, Kimberly Jessup, and Nicole Tickett.

Maggie Ahkavaluk and Malorie Johnson had bright smiles and bright kuspuks.

Later in the parade the MEHS Athabascan Dance Group appeared.

MEHS Athabascan Dance Group Advisor Joy Agner, Japanese teacher “Miki” and MEHS Senior Jaclyn Turner carry the sign for the MEHS Athabascan Dancers. Dance group members pictured behind are Nicole Hjelm-Gunter, Victoria Baalam, Angelica Baalam, and Danielle Turner.

The MEHS Yupik Dance Group soon arrived. Dance group members pictured below from left to right are Whitney Walker, Hope Kiunya, Charlene White, Jackson Kalistook, Sonya Edwards, Dionysia Gust, Bryan Myers, Jennifer Kailukuk, Jorge Johnson and Adrienne Miller. Not pictured is Yupik Dance Group Advisor Mary Beans who was also marching with the dance group members.

Corey Myers, pictured between his cousin Nikiefer Myers and his brother Bryan Myers, wears a kuspuk that he made himself in the Culture Room on MEHS campus with the help of one of the Cultural Coordinators Mary Beans).

MEHS students Nichole Chuckwuk, Sami Schaeffer, Gelsey Carmichael and Amanda Peratrovich encourage the Sitka Ride bus driver to honk the horn during the parade.

The MEHS SYFR (Sitka Youth First Responder) helped to wrap up the parade with big smiles. Holding the SYFR sign are Greta Elavgak, Aqualina Active, Alexis Dushkin followed by Linda Schumann, Brittany Young, Kaitlyn Storms and Kylee Larsen.

MEHS Braves put their best face forward

Front row, from left: Malorie Johnson (Sr. Unalakleet), Maggie Ahkvaluk (Sr. Nome), Sherry Horner (Sr. Kobuk). Back row, from left: Whitney Walker (Sr. Sitka), Celeste Menadelook (Soph. Nome), Sacha Mattley (Fresh. Illiamna), Nellie Alakayak (Soph. Manokotak). Photo by Paul Fitzgibbon