Danielle Alvarez

Interviewed by Isabel S

            Have you ever been to the Alaska Native Heritage Center, let alone any heritage center? Imagine what it would be like to work and visit it every day for five months. Danielle Alvarez has done this for the past two years, and before that she came to just visit with her dad. Danielle is 18 but has been living in Alaska for 15 years, and before that she lived in California. Her father has been working at the native heritage center for 13 years. “My favorite thing is dancing” Danielle said, “I’ve been dancing since the age of 1” Danielle also said. Danielle also wants to attend the University of Alaska, Anchorage.
            There are a few reasons why Danielle moved to Alaska. One reason is that her father got a new job as a percussionist, also the church’s here because Danielle and her family are orthodox like many people that live in Alaska. Danielle’s favorite part of Alaska is the isolation. “There is about 750,000 people in Alaska, which is very small for how big it is.” Danielle commented. Danielle also really doesn’t have a least favorite part about Alaska. “Maybe the cold, But you see, I don’t really mind the cold at all,” She commented.
            Danielle’s favorite culture in Alaska I located in the northern region, her favorite things about the culture and their dancing is the movement and the drumming and how it sounds. “Something about the drumming just gets me going” She commented. Danielle also likes to dance better then drum. Other then being able to dance and drum, Danielle can also speak Spanish fluently. Danielle is Mascalero apache and Mexican. Danielle hopes to finish college and become a teacher, but at the same time staying close to her heritage and working at the Alaskan Native Heritage Center.