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Yak’éi yagiyee, hello! Looking for an answer to your question? You can search for questions we’ve answered by typing the topic or key word.
Hi, Waqaa (Hello in Yup’ik), it’s your favorite Auntie Nikki with Sew Yup’ik. Today’s question is: Since coming to college I’ve felt very removed from the land and I feel like I’m losing a really important relationship.
Date added: 09/20/23
Today’s question is: Since coming to college I've felt very removed from the land and I feel like I'm losing a really important relationship. I've always loved things like hiking, gardening and fishing but these are not easily accessible right ...Read More
By: Guest Relative
Waqaa (Hello in Yup’ik) it’s your favorite Auntie Nikki with Sew Yup’ik. Today’s question is what is safe sex?
Date added: 09/20/23
Quyana (Thank you in Yup’ik) for this question, I am sure it took alot for you to ask. Safe sex is going to be different for everybody. You will establish consent with your partner but you will also establish guidelines ...Read More
By: Guest Relative
Hi, Waqaa, it’s your favorite Auntie Nikki with Sew Yup’ik. My question today is: I am white passing native and didn’t grow up with the culture. Where do I start to learn about culture, practices and more?
Date added: 09/20/23
First of Quyana for this question, I relate to it so much on so many levels. Growing up I didn't learn Yupik in the home. I learned it in elementary school. When I got older I took college classes. And ...Read More
By: Guest Relative
Auntie Nikki, today’s question is: how did your program get made?
Date added: 09/20/23
First of all I want to say quyana for this question. Quyana in Yup’ik means thank you. I started Sew Yup’ik in the summer of 2015 just by sewing qaspeqs and it has really taken off since then. And I ...Read More
By: Guest Relative
Auntie Nikki, Today’s question is: Hello Relatives, I’m 22 years old about to turn another page
Date added: 09/19/23
Waqaa (Hello in Yup’ik) it’s your favorite Auntie Nikki with Sew Yup’ik. Today’s question is Hello Relatives, I'm 22 years old about to turn another page. Lately I’ve been feeling depressed and anxious about everything. I’m struggling to find my ...Read More
By: Guest Relative
Dear Auntie Jane, will I ever stop feeling lonely?
Date added: 04/25/23
Hi there! Thanks for writing in. Let’s talk about loneliness and some follow up questions you might have Why do I feel like this? Loneliness is a starving for connection. Some people can be alone and not feel lonely while ...Read More
By: Auntie Jane
I don’t feel very feminine these days and so I am wondering if it would be disrespectful for a woman to wear a ribbon shirt as opposed to a ribbon skirt? I’m sure other folks might also wonder about the reverse. Would you have to identify as Two-spirit?
Date added: 01/18/23
Hi there, Thanks for writing in! For these types of questions, I want to be transparent in that I may not provide a traditional, straightforward answer, but instead be here as support and validation in you coming to that answer ...Read More
By: Auntie Asia
Hello relatives, I’m 22 years old about to turn another page. Lately I’ve been feeling depressed and anxious about everything. I’m struggling to find my purpose or what I want to do. I think work and school is taking a toll, I’m full time in both and still don’t know what I want to go to school for. How did you decide this? What helped you? Any advice?
Date added: 01/11/23
Hey there! I’m so glad you wrote in. First, I want to give you big props for reaching out for some support and encouragement. That’s what true bravery is, listening to the truth of what’s in your heart and taking ...Read More
By: Auntie Manda
Dear Auntie Manda, I have recently started to seriously try to reconnect with my Choctaw culture. My Great-great Grandpa, was an enrolled member of Choctaw Nation. He was orphaned as a child and enrolled in 1903, signing the Dawes Roll and moving to Oklahoma. For some reason, his children we not enrolled, which meant neither was my Nana or my father. My mom is full white and my dad is mixed, which makes me look very ambiguous to people because of my lighter skin and freckles. I’m afraid of overstepping by reconnecting since I’ve been socialized as a white person. I’ve started learning Choctaw and Tribal history, but I’m afraid to openly claim my heritage as a part of my identity for fear of backlash, not just from people who don’t know me, but from people that do. A few times, I’ve had friends and even family ask me, “Why is this so important to you? Why now?” I can’t put it into words, but I’ve always felt so lost and have had no cultural connection to anything growing up. I don’t want to feel disconnected anymore. Also, another thing that complicates my existence is the fact that I’m transgender. Perhaps, this is another reason why I feel lost. Not only do I want to feel like a whole woman, I want to feel like a whole person. Anyway, do you have any advice?
Date added: 11/17/22
Hi there, Halito relative! Yakoke for writing in - I always get a lil extra excited when I see other Choctaws reach out 🙂 Let's see where I can support you! I definitely want to acknowledge what youv’e written, because ...Read More
By: Cousin Asia
What is 988?
Date added: 08/22/22
Hey there! It’s Auntie Manda! I wanted to let you know about a new resource that you can put into your mental health toolbox. It is called 988, which is the national Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (used to be called ...Read More
By: Auntie Manda
Hey Auntie, I keep hearing a lot of scary things about fentanyl. What’s the deal?
Date added: 06/7/22
Yes, everyone is talking about fentanyl and for good reason; it’s more common than most think and right now the rates of accidental overdoses is the leading cause of death for 18 to 45 year old’s. Fentanyl is a synthetic ...Read More
By: Auntie Manda
I am a white woman of Ukrainian descent who has been involved in aboriginal ceremonies for the past 12 years. I have been so grateful to have more recently participated in a Ghost Dance and a Sun Dance and a Yuwipi ceremony. I am always careful to honour protocol and wear an appropriate long skirt (hard being 6 feet tall to find one long enough!). I have wanted to be as respectful as possible. I am curious if making a ribbon skirt or a dress to do Ghost Dance is allowed for a participant if they are not native. I have received very mixed messages. Some aboriginal people welcome it and find it extremely respectful and others have said it is appropriation. I feel the only dresses that are suitably long and modest are often from another culture- African, Mexican- unless I make something myself. Can you share your thoughts with me?
Date added: 03/17/22
I’m glad you asked this question, Please continue to take these precautions and ask these questions, as a non native interested in another culture’s traditional artwork. Good to hear that you have respect for other Native cultures, and coming from ...Read More
By: Auntie Manda
