BSCD creates creative opportunities for people to learn about their cultural histories and recreate their identities using post-colonial and new indigenous perspectives, practices, philosophies, and ideas.
BSCD is a culturally-rooted, community-driven, cultural arts organization.
We:
facilitate creative decolonization workshops, classes and events;
write, direct and produce community theater with themes and stories that support an evolving diversity of conversations and efforts in cultural wellness;
produce cultural resource videos on our YouTube channel for educators and anyone who'd like to learn from cultural stories, and;
write poems, plays and books with leading indigenous characters that address real issues in native communities.
BSCD incorporates knowledge, perspectives and practices from science education, behavioral health, wellness, creative writing and performance in addition to cultural history, stories and research in our work.
BSCD PROGRAMS
Recent Projects
ATTA 2019
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ATTA is a play Aaluk Edwardson first wrote in 2011 and a community theater production BSCD directed in the summer of 2019 in Utqiaġvik, Alaska.
It was an all-volunteer project that relied on donations and loans of material to build the set and the costumes.
And we did it! We received donations of time, materials and support from people from twenty-four families and eight different organizations.
It was an all-volunteer project that relied on donations and loans of material to build the set and the costumes.
And we did it! We received donations of time, materials and support from people from twenty-four families and eight different organizations.
We created an ivrulik (subterranean house), a spring whaling set, two arctic ocean and land stage murals and a new Iñupiaq song and dance.
(See the first iteration of the dance + song, recorded so we didn't forget what we created, here.)
Read more about the project and the many people who worked together to make it happen, here.
(See the first iteration of the dance + song, recorded so we didn't forget what we created, here.)
Read more about the project and the many people who worked together to make it happen, here.
Molly of Denali
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Aaluk Edwardson was selected as a Molly of Denali Writing Fellow in November of 2018!
She attended a week-long fellowship with five other Native Alaskan writers and learned the basics of writing for the PBS children's animation kids series, Molly of Denali. |
From the Episode:
"Grampa Nat's Drum"
Image Credit: PBS/WGBH
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Molly of Denali is the first nationally-distributed children's television series to feature an Alaskan Native lead character! BSCD is honored to be associated with the show.
I AM
Left to right: Kakianaaq Patkotak, Nuŋaluk Esmailka, Raymond Ipalook and Charlene Penner
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Four student-performers bravely stepped out on stage and shared something of themselves in an authentic way with a chosen audience one Saturday night in Utqiagvik in April of 2017.
Some sang, some danced, some talked and all told stories. Stories of who they are today as cultural peoples. Aaluk Edwardson directed the show, which was the culmination of the class, Exploring Cultural Identity through Storytelling and Performance she taught through a partnership with Iḷisaġvik College. You can read more about the project here. |
Before Bright Shores
I've worked in community resilience for my entire adult career.
I define community resilience as the act of sustaining wellness over time. Community resilience doesn't happen all at once.
Project-based education, experiences and community discussion spaces are needed on a consistent basis to be able to affect wellness,
which is a moving target within any community.
The rest of the projects listed on this page share more about
the projects I've led or been involved in before 2017 that supported community wellness in different ways.
I define community resilience as the act of sustaining wellness over time. Community resilience doesn't happen all at once.
Project-based education, experiences and community discussion spaces are needed on a consistent basis to be able to affect wellness,
which is a moving target within any community.
The rest of the projects listed on this page share more about
the projects I've led or been involved in before 2017 that supported community wellness in different ways.
Community Building with NASA
Recruiting Students for Alaska's Only Tribal College
Reclaiming Voice through Art with Telling My Story
Recruiting Students for Alaska's Only Tribal College
Reclaiming Voice through Art with Telling My Story
Cultural Connections: Aurora and Rocket Science Outreach in Alaska with NASA
Honoring a Space Science Pioneer through Renaming a NASA Mission
Communications and Outreach for the Citizen Science Project Aurorasaurus
Honoring a Space Science Pioneer through Renaming a NASA Mission
Communications and Outreach for the Citizen Science Project Aurorasaurus
(You will be able to click on the projects soon:)
Immersive Child Care Center in Iñupiat Language and Culture
Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Outreach in Northern Alaska
City-Wide Clean-Up Campaign and Competition in Utqiaġvik, Alaska
Immersive Child Care Center in Iñupiat Language and Culture
Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Outreach in Northern Alaska
City-Wide Clean-Up Campaign and Competition in Utqiaġvik, Alaska