James Afcan

The evening of May 14, 2024, James Afcan, our beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle and teacher to many had passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family after a year-long battle with cancer at Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage. James was 63 years old, born and raised in St. Mary’s, Alaska. James lived with his family in Fairbanks, Alaska since 1990 and moved to Wasilla in April 1992. James was an accomplished Yupik dance leader of the group, Miracle Drummers and Dancers since 1992 who performed in communities throughout Alaska and in the Moosehide Yukon Territory, Canada since 1996. James was a skilled ivory carver working from home for 48 years. He sold and gave away many ivory pieces. He commercial fished in St. Mary's, Alaska with his son, Jared Afcan. He taught classes in making dance drums in several village communities. The Yupik dance group, Miracle, Drummers and Dancers, had performed at the Festival of Native Arts in Fairbanks, Alaska for many years. James worked short contracts at the Yupiit School District. He also worked at the Alaska Native Medical Center, the Alaska Native Heritage Center, the MatSu School District, and the MSBSD Indian Ed Program teaching native dancing. He earned an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts at the University of Fairbanks, Alaska (UAF), graduated from Bethel, and went to school in carpentry at the Hutchison Career Center in Fairbanks, Alaska. He leaves behind his loving wife Janet Afcan, his loving sons Luke Afcan, Jared Afcan, and Leo Afcan, his loving daughter Jamie Stallings, his loving son-in-law Levi Stallings and darling granddaughter Darla Stallings, his sweet sisters Mary Andrews, Martha Potter, Antoinette Pattison and Agnes Afcan. His adoptive parents were Raphael and Elizabeth Afcan. His biological father was Andrew Kinzy and biological mother was Amadeus Afcan Kinzy.