Dorcas Tuusuwun Bloom

Dorcas Tuusuwun Bloom was born on November 13, 1944 in Savoonga to Albert and Mariam Kulowiyi.  She was second to the youngest of 14 siblings.

Dorcas started playing the piano at a very young age.  As she got older her skills enhanced with the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

In her youth, Dorcas learned the importance of traditional subsistence gathering and preparing of food.  She loved the great outdoors, including the times she spend fishing, picking greens, roots and all kinds of berries.  Her passion was to teach the traditional ways of cooking and preparing native foods with her family, this later included her husband Hank Bloom, whom she met in 1985 and married in May 26, 1992.

Dorcas was talented in beading and sewing, and would sell her material and the items that she made from a bead shop that she owned and at craft fairs.  She was involved in service organizations in her home communities, throughout other areas of Alaska, as well as all over the United States.

Dorcas opened doors for ministry in the villages and stressed to doing things in protocol.  Her missionary work was important to her and she was the founder of Blooming Mission Village Outreach, and Hank highly supported her.  Dorcas ministered to the women at AMCC and Seaside. 

Together, Dorcas and Hank provided meals and donated clothing for people in need.  Dorcas would perform on the piano and sing songs for the Elders at Quyanna Care. She also worked as an attendant at the pre-maternal and hostel housing.  As serving as part of her community, Dorcas also served on many boards and committees, including Liitfik’s Cultural committee, Regional Wellness Forum, Nome Community Center’s Executive Committee, Bering Sea Women’s Group Board Member, Local Option Committee with the A.B.C. Board in Juneau, Nome Community Baptist Church’s Search Committee, and Gambell’s New Building Committee.

Dorcas is survived by her husband Hank Bloom, and her children Tom and Linda Akeya and family, Joe and Rachel Akeya and family, and Calvin Akeya and family.  Dorcas cherished her great grandchildren Zhane, Kennedy, Ayesha, and Autumn.  She was blessed with knowing Hank’s children Diana, Roger and Debbie.

In Heaven Dorcas joins her siblings Harrison, John, Elton, Alvin, Elfie, Elinor, Rosemond, Dean, and Miitaq, her children Sheryl and Sherry, and her grandchildren Curtis, Dana, Christopher and Yolanda