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Pamyua

Country: Yup’ik | Alaska
Yup’ik ensemble Pamyua sit together on a wooden bench, wearing traditional Yup’ik masks.
Photo Credit: Kerry Tasker

Bio

Pamyua is Alaska’s most famous Inuit band. Founded in 1995 by brothers Phillip and Stephen Blanchett, the group includes Ossie Kairaiuak and frequent guest member Karina Moeller. Their performances honor and share indigenous Inuit cultural traditions through ceremony and songs passed down through generations. Their unique performances blend traditional Inuit drum/dance melodies with contemporary R&B and soul music, often referred to as “tribal funk” or “Inuit soul.”

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