Arts & Culture

Though this year’s lead dance group has deep roots in Southeast Alaska, it was formed in 2005 in Anchorage by leader Se’iga Liimii Marcella Asicksik. The group performs songs in Sm’algyax, the Ts’msyen language.

Old growth trees used to make traditional dugout canoes in Southeast Alaska are scarce. So carvers have developed a new method to build traditional boats, the first of which completed its maiden voyage this week, landing back in Juneau for Celebration.

Every other June, more than 100 paddlers arrive in Juneau to kick off Celebration, a gathering of Alaska Native people celebrating cultural revitalization.

A group of canoes from several different communities embarked from Petersburg on May 24 to paddle together to Juneau, camping and visiting villages along the way. It’s a tradition known as Journey. Kéet yaakw — a hand-painted, 39-foot, Tlingit-style fiberglass canoe — is Petersburg’s first in over a century. The local tribe says launching the canoe Journey…

The cultural festival celebrating Southeast Alaska Native culture officially kicks off Wednesday with the theme “enduring strength.”

Sitka’s canoe is expected to arrive in Juneau on Tuesday morning along with canoes paddling from communities across the region.