Tayana Arakchaa

Ekii, my name is Tayana Arakchaa. My name, Tayana, means nice, beautiful. I am from the country of Forever Blue Sky and White Mountains (the Republic of Tyva, southern Siberia, Russia). I am a daughter of Doldai-ool (Quick Boy), who is from Chadana town, Dzun-Khemchik region, Mongush tribe. My mother is Svetlana; she is from Kuular (Swans) tribe. I was born and raised in Kyzyl, the capital of the Republic of Tyva. I am the Tyva. I came to Alaska in 2011, and I joined the Pavva Iñupiaq Dancers in February 2013. Since then, I have enjoyed being a member of the group. I am a Ph.D. student in the Anthropology department at UAF. My research is about reindeer herding, hunting, and human-animal relations among the Tozhu-Tyva people. I am planning to graduate in 2017. After graduation, I hope I will continue to work with indigenous people in one of the Northern regions.Photo: Tayana Arakchaa, taken in December 2016.