The Haida Wave Warriors arrive at Sandy Beach in Juneau Wednesday in time for Celebration '98, after having paddles from their village of Masset, British Columbia.

Published June 7, 1998

Jainga and his group of Tsimshian dancers came to Juneau this weekend for Celebration '98, the festival of Southeast Alaskan Native culture, sponsored by the Sealaska Heritage Foundation.

"It's a chance for us to visit and to see relatives and to share our culture with the Tlingit and Haida and everyone else here," Jainga said.

Jordan Smith, 6, gains a front row seat with the help of his uncle, Tony Smith, during Celebration activities on Thursday.

It's called Celebration, but for many people it's an education and a reunion, too. The festival, held every other year, brings together the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people. As many as 3,000 of them were expected to attend, at least half of those are from out of town.

There were workshops on Native rights and languages and a grand parade through downtown on Saturday. Groups like Jainga's dancers performed on a nearly continuous basis from Thursday through Saturday. Participants dressed in traditional regalia, forming a sea of red and black. Many were adorned with elaborate headdresses, flowing robes and all manner of striking jewelry.

Jainga said Celebration is helping to earn respect for Native traditions and pride in their heritage.

"Our parents were told not to be proud of our own culture, so now it's a matter of re-learning these things and teaching our parents."

Theo McIntyre, right, of the 4th Generation Tsimshian Dancers of Metlakatla, drum at the start of the parade below a set of bentwood box drums, on Saturday.

Mary Johnson was among those who came to learn. At 66, the Angoon resident is considered an elder. But she said she's still finding out a lot about her heritage.

"We have to learn it, because we didn't have that when I was growing up," Johnson said. Looking out on Saturday's parade, she said the story was right there among the marchers.

"It tells everything, even on their signs and their blankets."

Backed by a line of drummers, a masked dancer from the Tsimshian Haayuuk of Seattle, performs for the audience at Centennial Hall on Thursday.

In Centennial Hall, 89-year-old Clara Natkong was the oldest of five generations of her family attending Celebration from Hydaburg. Her great-great-granddaughter sat on her lap, while Natkong's great-granddaughter pushed her wheelchair into the main hall for a celebration of elders.

"This is quite interesting to us, our culture," Natkong said.

John Dick, 27, moved back to Juneau from Seattle two months ago. It's his first Celebration, and on Saturday he wore a new robe, stitched together by his grandmother.

"It feels great to me. I'm enjoying myself," Dick said.