The Kenaitze Indian Tribe recently opened their new elder center near their Dena’ina Wellness Center in the heart of Old Town Kenai. Officials say it’s part of a larger strategy to restore the tribe’s original village site and bring better services to tribal members and other Alaska Natives and American Indians living in the area.
The multipurpose room has high ceilings and a wall of windows overlooking the Kenai River and the tribe’s traditional fishing grounds. Inside, hues of chartreuse, tan and teal represent the trees, beaches and the water that flows in the Kenai River. And that’s intentional, says Shayna Frankie the Manager for Tyotka’s Elder Center with the Kenaitze Indian Tribe in Kenai.
“We got together with our architect and told her what we wanted and they came up with a couple of displays and the elders actually had an opportunity to choose out what they wanted to see in the building,” said Frankie.
A remnant of blond wood from the old Kenai fish cannery serves as a mantle over the fireplace in the main room. There’s also a library, a commercial kitchen and offices. The building can hold over 100 and serves as a hub for transportation, meals, advocacy and activities for Alaska Native and American Indian people 55 and over. Frankie says the Center has needed a new space for a long time.
“In our old building, we got shut down because there were some maintenance issues and it became a hazard for elders to be in so we shut it down, moved out really quickly, jumped over there and started operating out of that center, Fort Kenai, and then we started construction on this one,” said Franke.
The Elder Center, which was built with funds from the Indian Health service, opened in March. It’s part of their development of the Kenaitze Campus in Old Town Kenai. That also includes the Dena’ina Wellness Center, which opened in 2014, and a social services building; as well their new tribal court. There’s also a new property they acquired in March that will soon house their environmental and security offices.
Jaylene Peterson-Nyren is Executive Director for Kenaitze Indian Tribe. She says taking care of elders is a core Native value so the project was a high priority for the tribe.
“I like to say that we are all elders in the making when you really think about it,” said Peterson-Nyren.
Petersen-Nyren says it’s part of a plan for the tribe to be more proactive and visible.
“The Dena’ina people here on their land here on the Kenai Peninsula really became invisible in a way with all of the outside influence and other peoples coming in and what we’ve tried to do is really partner well with the community and to really show that we are here and I think that we’ve had a lot of success partnering in locally with the state and federal programs and services,” said Peterson-Nyren.
Peterson-Nyren says the development of the Kenaitze campus creates a sense of community that is both practical and also symbolic.
“Old Town Kenai was one of the original village sites. There were many village sites with many different names and locations around the Kenai Peninsula. This was a space that was primarily a summer camp but it was also where the tribal members had permanent dwellings and this was one of the original village sites where folks fished down in the dip net fishery,” said Peterson-Nyren.
Retired school counselor, Marylou Bottorff sits at a table in the main hall looking through a book of Alaska history, much of which she was present for. Bottoroff says she’s been coming to the tribe’s elder center in Kenai for about 20 years, in the older buildings, and she says she loves the new space.
“It’s very roomy, airy, very bright. The colors are – they’re easy on the eyes. Beautiful library and there’s more new elders coming in now that have never been here before. I notice that they’re starting at $2 a meal – can’t beat that,” said Bottorff.
Nearby, William Segura is deep into his crossword puzzle.
“I go by William most of the time, but here they call me Bill,” said Segura.
Segura, who once worked in the local fishery, says he was born 71 years ago, across the street from where the new elder center now stands, so it feels like home.
“We never had anything like this before, you know. I like it. I like to visit. I’m what you call a blabbermouth,” said Segura.
He says he’s there for the socializing.
“We never had anything like this before, you know. I like it because I like to visit. I like to talk to people,” said Segura.
The elders had always advised the tribal council that they would like to return to the site in Old Kenai, says Peterson-Nyren.
“We coined a phrase when we moved into the Dena’ina Wellness Center and the term in Dena’ina is naqantugheduł. Naqantugheduł means that the tide has been going out and away from us for many, many years – including our people and our culture; and now the tide has turned and is coming back into us. We are coming back to ourselves in this space, in this time,” said Peterson-Nyren.
A grand opening celebration for the Kenaitze Tribe’s new Elder Center is planned for June.
