Celebration

Last weekend, the One People Canoe Society held a two-day paddle-making workshop in Wrangell.

A virtual gallery of art from Celebration 2012 that’s now on display at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center.

Celebration 2012 ended Saturday night with the Grand Exit, where more than 50 groups from Anchorage to the Pacific Northwest make their final processions. At the lead, and at the start of the Southeast Native cultural festival’s Grand Entrance, was one dance group from Angoon. Gilbert Fred and Alan Zuboff lead the Xudzidaa Kwáan Dancers.

The state is expanding its support for mariculture. Governor Sean Parnell this week signed a bill creating a revolving loan fund for shellfish farms.

Celebration 2012 is officially underway. Southeast Alaska’s largest Native cultural gathering kicked off in earnest this morning (Thursday) with the Grand Entrance Procession in Juneau.

Watch all of Celebration live online. Celebration is a biennial festival of Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian tribal members organized every two years by Sealaska Heritage Institute. Celebration 2012 began on June 7 and lasts three days. Watch the entire event on 360 North.

Thirty-two pieces by 21 artists in Customary and Inspired Customary Art were selected for the exhibit.

Several hundred people welcomed seven canoe teams Wednesday who paddled to Juneau for Celebration 2012.

About 90 Southeast Alaskans are making their way to Celebration 2012 by traditional canoe.

Celebration 2012 begins Thursday morning with the grand entrance, led by the Xudzidaa Kwáan Dancers of Angoon. More than 50 other groups from Alaska, Canada and the Lower-48 will take the stage during the Thursday-through-Saturday event, which is Southeast Alaska’s largest Native cultural gathering.