Itqiliuraq/Mark Wartes

My Inupiat name is Itqiliuraq. My English name is Mark Wartes. I was raised in Barrow Alaska, the oldest son of Bill and Bonnie Wartes. Iñupiaq is the language I chose to speak as a youth. I attended high school and college outside of Alaska and then returned to the North Slope after 4 years in the Air Force. I settled in the Colville River Delta area on the edge of the Arctic Ocean, returning to the nomadic-subsistence life I was trained for as a youth. In time, I married Tagalukisaq Denise and we have two children, Inuksuk and Nagliktuqtuk.

We moved to Fairbanks when our children were old enough to enter public school. I joined the Pavva Iñupiaq Dancers group as a way to share my Inupiat culture with my grandchildren. I have several grandchildren who dance with our group. Two granddaughters, Nipituruaq Gwendolyn Bunch and Anayaktuaq Matia Wartes, and two grandsons Alaasuraq Owen and Saggan Blake Bunch, enjoy dancing & singing with Pavva Iñupiaq Dancers. My wife, Tagaluksiaq Denise, is also involved with and supportive of Pavva.