Margaret Nakak

Depending on the level of design and decoration of a particular kuspuq, Margaret Nakak’s garments require a wide range of fabrics, furs, ivory, beads, and seashells. She studies historical photos and replicates the pieces worn. She brings them from the past to present and, through workshops and classes, into the future. She also teaches skin sewing, beading, doll making, and passes on traditions and lifeways of her Yupik and Inupiaq people by demonstrating basic sewing survival skills for emergency situations in Alaska’s challenging environment.

Margaret began dedicating her life to sustaining cultural traditions in 1965 and continues strong today. But she doesn’t call what she does “work.”

“At 16-years-old, I started working in canneries. When my coworker at the Heritage Center, Andrew, first came here, he said, ‘I’ve got to work on this.’ I said, ‘You know what work is? In the cannery where you process fish and stand for 12 hours a day and freeze your hands in ice cold water. That’s work! This, we’re just having a grand old time.” - Margaret Nakak

Alaskan artist Michael Livingston (Unangax/Chugach) nominated Margaret for a FPF Community Spirit Award.

“I first met Marge in 1999 when I began building an iqyax [Unangax skin on frame sea kayak] at the Alaska Native Heritage Center. Marge has touched many lives for over half a century. I worked in Alaska for 27 years as a police officer and know how important it is to have community spirit leaders like Marge teach and guide others.” - Michael Livingston