It’s the darkest part of winter in a very dark year marked with loss, anxiety, economic worries, political upheaval and isolation. We’ve been asking Alaskans where they find inspiration, hope and comfort on their bleakest days. Many of them said they turned to art — music, literature, film and spiritual texts — to help get through it.
Spirit
Sitka church rings bell 300 times, once for every thousand lives lost to the coronavirus
Sitka’s St. Peter’s Episcopal Church rang its churchbell once for every thousand U.S. deaths to the coronavirus. It took 15 minutes.
‘Pretty much sums up 2020’: With its tree-lighting ceremony canceled, Wrangell makes do
Despite its desultory appearance, the tree has sparked joy.
Alaska Orthodox Archbishop David Mahaffey dies at 68
David Mahaffey was installed as the 16th Bishop of the Orthodox Dioceses in Alaska in 2014. He passed away on Nov. 27.
Local pastor experiments with short range radio in Klukwan
Pastor Jami Campbel says she hopes residents will use the radio transmitter to share their music and stories with one another.
Now streaming: Alaska Native and First Nations films during online festival
All three films are available to watch for free on Vision Maker’s First Indigenous Online Film Festival page until September 14.
3 Yellowstone bison arrive at their new home near Old Harbor, Alaska
The buffalo left Montana for Alaska on Monday — three hardy bulls, which weigh about a thousand pounds each.
Knopp remembered as ‘one-of-a-kind leader’ in Alaska
Knopp was an oil industry contractor who served on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly before he was elected to the House in 2016. He represented Kenai and Soldotna in the chamber.
Native Village of Eklutna will decide what to do with Captain Cook statue in downtown Anchorage
Cook, a famed British explorer, was in the Anchorage area for short period in May and June of 1778; he and his crew were the first Europeans to reach Prince William Sound and Cook Inlet. His visit is remembered in the oral tradition of the Dena’ina people.
Native Youth Olympics goes virtual for annual statewide competition
This year’s statewide Native Youth Olympics competition was canceled due to the pandemic, but the annual gathering rooted in sportsmanship and survival found a creative way to continue.