Asikłuk/Sean Topkok

Uvaŋa atiġa Asikłuk. My Iñupiaq name is Asikłuk, which means "Bad Boy". I am named after one of my great-uncles, Johnny Kakaruk, who was an author and dance group leader. My white fox name is Sean Topkok. I am Iñupiaq, Sámi, Kven, Irish, and Norwegian. My parents are the late Aileen and Clifford Sanguk Topkok from Teller, Alaska. My father was Iñupiaq ,Sámi, and Kven. His first language was Iñupiaq. My mother was born and raised in Teller, learning to speak a little Iñupiaq. My paternal grandparents were Fred and Gussie Topkok; and my maternal grandparents were Edgar and Mary Tweet. My Tlingit name is Deikeejaakhw.

I am the founder and leader of the Pavva Iñupiaq Dancers, and have been the dance group leader since it began in 1999. Before our dance group, I began dancing with other Alaska Native groups in 1987 with the Yup'ik group Greatland Traditional Dancers of Anchorage, led by the late William and Marie Tyson of St. Mary's. I have been with Alaska Native Knowledge Network from April 1997 to 2014. I am currently an Associate Professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks in the Center for Cross-Cultural Studies with the Indigenous Studies graduate programs and have a Ph.D. in Indigenous Studies.

My wife Ahnaughuq and three sons: Akukqasuq, Saaŋiaq Masuġnaat, and Aqituaq, are also actively involved with the Pavva Iñupiaq Dancers. The whole group is like family to me. Being involved with this group has helped me share what I know about our culture heritage, and it has helped me learn more about our culture. We continue to live our Iñupiaq values through our dance group, passing them to our children. This is also true now that we have a grandson, Sanguk Terry who is now learning to dance, sing, and drum with our group.

Photo: Asikluk performing the Inupiat Ilitqusiat song at Festival of Native Arts, March 2015, held at University of Alaska Fairbanks, at Fairbanks, Alaska. The song incorporates the seventeen Iñupiat values of Northwest Alaska, originally created by Iñupiaq Elders.

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