Farewell, safe travels, may we meet again

On the final night of dancing, with all the dance groups seated in a half-ring around the gym, a lot was going on in different places and I missed a special moment that took place between Canada and Nuiqsut. Nellie Nukapigak of Nuiqsut presented Aklavik dance group leader Andrew Gordon Sr. with an ugruk hide (bearded seal). Eva Gordon, Andrew's wife, then gave Nellie her dance parka. That's Eva on the left with Nellie next to her wearing her new Aklavik dance parka. Then there was a gift exchange between Eric Leavitt and Eva and Andrew's son, Alexander. That's Eric standing next to Nellie in the new parka that Alexander, with his arm over Eric's shoulder, gave him. 

Just before the Canadians boarded the plane that would take them to Fairbanks, from where they would drive east into Canada and on north towards home, a very long drive, much of it over gravel road, they posed for their Alaskan friends. Now that he had the dance parka Alexander had given him, Eric felt like he was a Canadian, too. He pranced into the picture.

Woodrow Oyagak is originally from Nuiqsut, but is living in Atqasuk with his wife Sherlene and their young son Mark. She was returning to Atqasuk but Woodrow was remaining behind to be of assistance to his ailing father, his family and whaling crew. Woodrow and Sherlene say their farewells.

Before the Canadians left, Bernice Kaigelak gathered everybody present at the airport together and all joined hands in a circle. She offered a prayer for their safe travels. This ends my iPhone/Instagram/blog coverage of Kuukpik Corporation's 40th Anniversary celebration for the village of Nuiqsut. There will be much more comprehensive coverage of the celebration in the 96 page document, shot with my "real "cameras, I will make for Kuukpik. I expect it to include a much better picture of this prayer. I still must post my "Logbook" entries of my travels from Nuiqsut to Anchorage, via Barrow, and then on home to Wasilla. The Logbook entries will be up before the day ends.