Hundreds of Alaska Natives and a handful of other cultural groups gathered for a processional and grand entrance during the first day of Celebration on Wednesday.
The biennial festival of Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian tribal members kicked off on Wednesday with a Ravenstail and Chilkat weavers presentation in Juneau and will end Saturday with a grand exit.
In the interim, dance performances will be held every morning and days will be filled with art exhibits, lectures, film showings, music and language lessons as Alaska Natives in Southeast celebrate.
Here is a selection of images from the grand entrance.
Click on any photo to view the full slideshow.
Hundreds gather to march during a processional and grand entrance on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, near Juneau, Alaska. Celebration is a biennial festival of Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian tribal members put on by the Sealaska Heritage Institute. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/KTOO)
Hundreds gather to march during a processional and grand entrance on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, near Juneau, Alaska. Celebration is a biennial festival of Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian tribal members put on by the Sealaska Heritage Institute. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/KTOO)
Jeffrey Mark, Tsimshian from Anchorage, plays with train while waiting for his group’s turn to march during a processional and grand entrance on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, near Juneau, Alaska. Celebration is a biennial festival of Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian tribal members put on by the Sealaska Heritage Institute. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/KTOO)
Fausto Paulo, from the Humpback Moon house in Yakutat waits for his group’s turn to march during a processional and grand entrance on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, near Juneau, Alaska. Celebration is a biennial festival of Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian tribal members put on by the Sealaska Heritage Institute. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/KTOO)
Nakiya Lundy, 19, and her daughter Luna Lundy, 8 months, wait for their spot in a processional and grand entrance on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/KTOO)
Hundreds gather to march during a processional and grand entrance on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, near Juneau, Alaska. Celebration is a biennial festival of Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian tribal members put on by the Sealaska Heritage Institute. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/KTOO)
Hundreds gather to march during a processional and grand entrance on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, near Juneau, Alaska. Celebration is a biennial festival of Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian tribal members put on by the Sealaska Heritage Institute. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/KTOO)
Hundreds gather to march during a processional and grand entrance on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, near Juneau, Alaska. Celebration is a biennial festival of Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian tribal members put on by the Sealaska Heritage Institute. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/KTOO)
Hundreds gather to march during a processional and grand entrance on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, near Juneau, Alaska. Celebration is a biennial festival of Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian tribal members put on by the Sealaska Heritage Institute. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/KTOO)
Hundreds gather to march during a processional and grand entrance on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, near Juneau, Alaska. Celebration is a biennial festival of Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian tribal members put on by the Sealaska Heritage Institute. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/KTOO)
Austin Tagaban, Tlingit from Juneau, dances during a processional and grand entrance on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, near Juneau, Alaska. Celebration is a biennial festival of Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian tribal members put on by the Sealaska Heritage Institute. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/KTOO)
Hundreds gather to march during a processional and grand entrance on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, near Juneau, Alaska. Celebration is a biennial festival of Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian tribal members put on by the Sealaska Heritage Institute. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/KTOO)
Hundreds gather to march during a processional and grand entrance on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, near Juneau, Alaska. Celebration is a biennial festival of Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian tribal members put on by the Sealaska Heritage Institute. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/KTOO)
Max Wesley, 7, drums during a processional and grand entrance on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, near Juneau, Alaska. Celebration is a biennial festival of Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian tribal members put on by the Sealaska Heritage Institute. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/KTOO)
Hundreds gather to march during a processional and grand entrance on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, near Juneau, Alaska. Celebration is a biennial festival of Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian tribal members put on by the Sealaska Heritage Institute. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/KTOO)
Tiny Barril, Tlingit from Washington, dances during a processional and grand entrance on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, near Juneau, Alaska. Celebration is a biennial festival of Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian tribal members put on by the Sealaska Heritage Institute. (Photo by Rashah McChesney/KTOO)
Live television coverage of Celebration on 360 North and 360north.org begins at 6 p.m. Wednesday. Celebration coverage continues from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. through Saturday. For more Celebration news coverage, go to ktoo.org/celebration.
