Yupiit Piciryarait Museum

Museum

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Our Mission:

Cultural transmission from this generation of Elders into the future is a guiding principle.

Elders are the teachers and can mentor others to preserve, restore and revitalize our inherent and traditional culture, language, history customs, rituals and life ways through education, documentation, research and study, and cultural events and activities conducted by the center.

The overall goal is to enhance the quality of life, impart community values and to provide for visibility and accessibility to our young people under the guidance and direction of our Elders.

The Cultural Center

The Museum is housed at the Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center.

Located in Bethel near the University of Alaska’s Kuskokwim Campus and Bethel City Offices, the Cultural Center houses the Yupiit Piciryarait Museum and Bethel Library.

When the Cultural Center was constructed in 1995, The Yupiit Piciryarait Museum was transferred to the Association of Village Council Presidents. The museum was originally founded in 1965 as the “Bethel Museum”, and was established by the City of Bethel.

The Yupiit Piciryarait Museum now occupies 3,800 square feet including galleries, storage, and offices. Our current facility houses approximately 2,500 pieces of art, photos and artifacts. Galleries display exhibits of Yup’ik, Cup’ik, and Athabascan people of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta in ancient and contemporary times.