OptimERA xG was proud to sponsor the youth of Akutan to attend the 2025 Urban Unangax Culture Camp in Anchorage, Alaska. This annual program brings together children from across the region and country to celebrate Unangax culture, language, and traditions, while connecting with peers and learning from one another. The group also had the honor of performing at the Aleut Picnic after practicing traditional dances alongside other camp participants.
Throughout the week, the youth immersed themselves in hands-on cultural activities and workshops. They learned language, crafted drums, masks, headdresses, visors, and model iqyax boats, and practiced traditional games such as darts. Participants also prepared traditional foods including smoked salmon, pickled fish, dried halibut, puffin, and seal. One student even shared his artwork by painting drums for fellow campers. Each activity offered the youth a deeper understanding of Unangax traditions and an opportunity to carry that knowledge back to their village.
By participating in the camp, these young attendees not only learned new skills but also became active carriers of Unangax culture, helping ensure that traditions, language, and values are passed down to future generations. Just as OptimERA xG works to connect communities across the Aleutians through technology, supporting programs like the Urban Unangax Culture Camp helps connect youth to their heritage, their peers, and the wider world.
As a company based in the Aleutians, OptimERA xG is committed to supporting programs that preserve and share Unangax culture, empower youth, and strengthen connections across communities through meaningful experiences and the networks that connect us all. Sponsoring participation in the Urban Unangax Culture Camp is one of the many ways we help foster understanding, education, and cultural pride for the next generation of Aleutians.