It’s Time For Movie Monday!
Movie Monday: Kangiliryaraq
Movie Monday is back!
Movie Monday is our weekly film series where we share short documentaries created through See Stories programs. These films highlight stories of place, culture, and community from across Alaska, created by students, educators, and community members who are documenting the histories and experiences that shape where they live.
We are kicking off with a new series of Movie Monday by featuring short films created by educators from across Alaska during the Anchored Histories Alaska intensive in Willow in June 2025. During this See Stories professional development retreat, educators explored storytelling as a way to share culture, history, and place-based knowledge through film.
Our first film in the series is Kangiliryaraq, created by educator Elena Pavilla . In this film, elders and community members share teachings about Yup’ik naming traditions and the ceremony that welcomes a new name into a person’s life. Their stories reflects on how names connect generations and carry the memory of those who have passed on. Names carry knowledge, relationships, and responsibility, and in her words, “All the people that have passed on live through us.” This film offers a glimpse into how naming strengthens cultural identity and reminds younger generations of where they come from.
🎥 Watch Kangiliryaraq here or click the still below:
Discussion Questions
- Why are names important in Yup’ik culture?
- How do names connect people across generations?
- Do you know of others that have a similar tradition?
Check out our growing library of lesson plans on our Teacher Tools online community! Register today to access for educators who want to bring cultural storytelling into the classroom! If you’re an educator interested in integrating storytelling and cultural preservation into your classroom, check out Teacher Tools—our online community where educators can access free lesson plans, digital storytelling resources, and more.
Find our TeacherTools online community here: See Stories Teacher Tools Community