For five years, Sharon Livingston has organized “Camp A”, where first-, second- and third-graders immerse themselves in traditional stories, crafts and foods. By encouraging kids to explore Unangan culture, she said they learn to see the value in cultures of all kinds.
Alaska Native Arts & Culture
Science and culture merge as one at summer camp on the Kwethluk
Orutsararmiut Native Council held its first Science and Culture camp in July for high school students. Campers collected juvenile fish, like baby king and red salmon, and participated in activities in avian biology, ethnobotany and workshops on federal and state subsistence management.
After WWII internment apology, a new generation of Aleuts seek out history
“To the Aleut people interned at Funter Bay and their descendants, who continue to carry this burden, I am sorry,” Wes Kuhns of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service told a small crowd at the St. George community center.
Former Thane attraction to be razed for tribal culture park
Juneau’s Docks and Harbors board has given the green light for firefighters to burn down the former Thane Ore House restaurant. The 35-year-old former attraction is being razed to make way for a Alaska Native cultural immersion park.
Humanities endowment to partner with Native nonprofit to promote language immersion education
A federal humanities advocate and a Native nonprofit are teaming up to promote Native language education programs. They’ll each contribute about $2 million to fund education programs within tribal communities aimed at revitalizing Native American languages.
Metlakatla celebrates traditions on Founder’s Day
August 7, is Founder’s Day in Metlakatla. In 1887, Duncan arrived at Annette Island with about 800 Tsimshians from British Columbia and founded what is now Metlakatla Indian Community, about 15 miles south of Ketchikan.
Douglas Indian Association tours T’aaḵu Kwáan territory
The Douglas Indian Association wants you to know its traditional territory stretches far beyond its namesake city and island. A recent boat tour covered some of the T’aaḵu Kwáan’s lands.
Alutiiq language nest school enters first full semester
A preschool designed to immerse children in the Alutiiq language is about to enter its first full semester of classes. The Administration for Native Americans granted the Sun’aq tribe roughly $2 million dollars to establish the nest school. It wrapped up its pilot semester in May.
‘It makes my heart beat:’ Chilkoot culture camp comes back to life
Along the banks of the Chilkoot River near Haines, there’s an old culture camp that stood empty for years. A group of young people recently decided to revitalize the traditional site. The Chilkoot Indian Association and the Haines Public Library worked together this year and last to put on the event.
Athabascan artist teaches others how to weave with fish skins
Fish skin: some people eat it, others throw it out, and some make baskets from it. This week at the Sitka Arts and Science Festival, five women are learning how to make a basket from fish skin, beads, and a needle and thread. Their teacher is Athabascan artist Audrey Armstrong, who comes to Sitka every summer to teach this class.