Alana Moses from Fairbanks, Alaska is the 2025 Festival of Native Arts (FNA) Booklet Cover Artist. She is eighteen years old, and is currently in her second year of taking classes on the Troth Yeddha’ Campus at UAF. Alana is Yup’ik, Cup’ik, Iñupiaq, and Koyukon Athabascan with family from Alatna, Allakaket, and Hooper Bay. The logo for this year's Festival of Native Arts booklet represents the theme “Remembering our Past to Strengthen our Future” by showcasing a diverse group of young Alaska Native dancers underneath what looks like the original Festival banner. The banner is displayed above the stage every year at FNA. To help us remember our past, stars are added to the banner on the cover art. By adding in these stars, we can remember and honor our ancestors as well as all the dancers, songwriters, singers, drummers, and performers who were on the stage before us.
"The five Alaska Native people dancing on the stage showcase the diversity of our beautiful State of Alaska."
Although these dancers are loosely based on individuals who have regularly performed at the Festival of Native Arts for most of their young lives, she hopes that by having the faces without features, many can see themselves on this stage. The people displayed on this cover as well as everyone here performing at the Festival of Native Arts are the upcoming leaders and culture bearers who can help “To Strengthen Our Future”. Throughout her life, Alana Moses has attended nearly every Festival of Native Arts either as a dancer, performer, assistant vendor, or spectator. She has danced with the Inu-Yupiaq dance group both as a small child and in her time as a university student. She can also say that she is on the cover of this year’s Festival of Native Arts booklet as she included herself as the dancer on the far right in light blue wearing her traditional Yup’ik and Cup’ik regalia, all of which she has made herself in real life. Alana would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone involved with the Festival throughout her life. It has always been a warm, and welcoming space that has allowed her as a young Alaska Native woman to connect with her cultures and the many people who attended. From these experiences, she has been able to flourish as an Artist and maintain a sense of belonging. As we all remember our past Festival experiences we can carry forward a plethora of connections and pride as we strengthen our future.
"Shoozhríʼ Naatanii Mayo oozhrí, Denyeet gwats’an ihłii gaa Tanan gwihch’ii. Tl’eeyegge hʉt’aane gooveenjit Todích'íí'nii ihłii."
My name is Naatanii Mayo, I am from Stevens Village but I currently live in Fairbanks. I am Bitterwater Clan for the Tl’eeyegge hʉt’aane.
This year’s Festival of Native Arts logo is a reflection of all the amazing people and opportunities that I have encountered during my studies here at UAF. Since starting here at UAF, each year has brought new experiences and relationships that I would have otherwise never have been exposed to. Remembering each year's own unique set of memories has strengthened me and soon my future. Knowing that with each year and years prior, I have gained the means and skills to take care of myself and those around me.
Thank you all for making this life a beautiful journey. Jyaa Gwahtsii Gwizhrįh.
My name is Cavelila Moxie Simeon Wonhola better known as “The Gov” from my Nickname. I got the nickname because my great-grandpa or grandpa couldn’t say my real name Cavelila. They were saying the C like a G and after they had passed on, it went to the Governor and it has been with me since birth. I graduated high school at Chief Ivan Blunka School in the spring of 2015. In New Stuyahok, Alaska I was the salutatorian in my class. I got a UA scholar award and went to the University of Alaska Fairbanks. That’s how my long time journey at the University of Alaska Fairbanks started, back in 2015. Halfway through my first degree, I ended up taking all of the Yup’ik classes and decided to add a Yup’ik Bachelors as a second degree, with my first degree an AAS in Construction Management.
"My advice— it is worth it after getting your diplomas and see all of your hard work done."
I may have had a little bumpy road during my journey of getting both of my degrees, but I remembered that my Grandpa always told me to keep going. As long as I remembered his words, I kept going and coming back to school and getting it done. Back in Spring 2022, I had a sense of relief when I graduated with my AAS in Construction Management from UAF. I felt somewhat complete after that first graduation. In the last fall semester of 2024, I completed my full journey of getting my second degree –a bachelor’s degree in Yup’ik language.
Cavelila Wonhola is graduating this spring. Congratulations Gov!