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Nunivak Island Cup'ig Gospel Songs
Language Preservation Project

​Nunivak Island is isolated in the Bering Sea, the residents speak Cup’ig, a rare sub-dialect of the Central Yup’ik that is in danger of extinction. The Cup’ig dialect is a unique language, no one on earth speaks the language except the people from Nunivak Island. The uniqueness of the language interests people of different ethnicity for the spoken dialect and its culture. Ultimately, once the language is no longer used it will be lost forever. Preserving the language and actively passing on traditions is key to cultural vibrancy, sustainability, and the overall mental, spiritual, and physical health of current residents and future generations.

The sound-tracks of Cup’ig gospel hymns on cassette audiotapes were recorded by Nona Amos who was encouraged by her brother Harry Mike in the early 1990’s. Although there may be indifferences documenting religious songs, the songs were translated by Cup’ig people of Nunivak in the mid 1930’s when the Cup’ig language was hardly influenced by other mainland communities. This will connect the elders and youth to strengthen the Cup’ig language.
​
To be unique in any form is well worth the effort to document, publish and revitalize. This is one method for documenting words that no longer exists and/or rarely used in the Cup’ig language. To preserve and revitalize the Cup’ig language is our due responsibility to ensure documentation of rarely used Cup’ig words and to share the songs to the next generation of our Indigenous people.

The images in the slideshow are of pictographs that correspond to some of the gospel songs. These pictographs are a testament to the innovation and deep understanding of concepts that intersect across cultures.  These are only a sample of the hundreds pf pictographs that have now been preserved as part of this project.

Our Location

Mailing Address:
PO Box 90369
Anchorage, AK 99509-0369

KONR-LP Studio:
3400 Spenard Rd. - St. 10
Anchorage, AK 99503

contact@outnorth.org

About Us

Out North is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit.

Out North advances contemporary art in Anchorage, supports under-represented voices, and promotes cultural dialogue. We are one of Anchorage's longest operating arts nonprofits. We currently produce pop-up art shows around town and operate KONR-LP 106.1FM "Out North Radio."

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Your generous charitable donation helps pay our rent, state & national nonprofit fees, internet costs, equipment storage, web hosting services as well as all bills and fees associated with running KONR-LP 106.1FM, Arts and Community Programming. We can't do it without you. Thank you!

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  • KONR-LP
    • Stream KONR
    • On-Air Schedule
    • Underwriting
    • Host a Show
    • Podcast Studio
  • Mental Health Mosaics
    • Art >
      • Community Art
      • Mosaics Art Show >
        • Andrea Lee Nelson
        • Aqavzik R
        • Astrid Olson
        • Dagny McHugh
        • Donalen Rojas Bowers
        • Dumile
        • Elizabeth Wulbrecht
        • Graham Dane
        • Holly Mititquq Nordlum
        • Lauren Stanford
        • Laurinda A Weston-O'Brien
        • Sam Jackson & Rebecca Brewer
        • Sean Enfield
      • Workbook
    • People
    • Podcast >
      • Breaking the Silence
      • Colonization & Oppression
      • Diagnosis
      • Emergency Response
      • Houselessness
      • Identity
      • Intergenerational Conversations
      • Suicide
    • Events
  • Out North Fringe Festival
  • unAUTHORized
    • unAUTHORized 2021
    • unAUTHORized 2020
  • Día de Muertos
    • Dia de Muertos 2018
    • Dia de Muertos 2017
  • Cup'ig Gospel Songs
  • Past Programming
  • About
    • Contact Us
  • Press
  • Donate