BSNC is pleased to highlight talented shareholder and Elder John Waghiyi, Jr. Born in Savoonga, Alaska, to Reverends John Waghiyi, Sr. and Della Waghiyi, he and his wife of 51 years, Arlene, reside in Savoonga. Together, they have 11 children, seven of whom they adopted.
Waghiyi is skilled in carving, sewing, drumming, and dancing. He and his wife are widely recognized for their artistic, subsistence, and community contributions, with a deep commitment to sharing traditional practices. To revitalize drumming and dancing in their community, they founded the Savoonga Youth Drummers and Dancers, showcasing their dance and strong family collaboration across Alaska.
As a dedicated educator, Waghiyi has taught Yupik Language and Cultural History in the Bering Strait School District for over two decades. As an experienced whaling captain, he leads subsistence whaling efforts, harvesting bowhead whales and guiding his community through traditional hunts. At events, he proudly shares his cultural heritage through traditional dances, drumming, and songs passed through generations.
In 2025, BSNC nominated Waghiyi for the Alaska Federation of Natives Culture Bearer Award, and he was honored with Elder of the Year awards from both BSNC and Sitnasuak. In 2017, Waghiyi joined the board of Integrational Arctic Ministries, supporting faith based healing from intergenerational trauma among Alaska Native people. He also served as an officer on the Executive Committee of the Bering Sea Elders Group from 2023 to 2026.
Waghiyi emphasizes the importance of passing on traditional ways: “This is how we keep our culture alive. We pass it down the way it was given to us—by showing it, living it.” – John Waghiyi, Jr.