Photographs from the first-ever Voices of Our Ancestors Native Language Summit, taking place in Juneau this week.
The summit was co-sponsored by Sealaska Heritage Institute, Goldbelt Heritage Foundation, University of Alaska Southeast, Haida Heritage Foundation and SEARHC. All photos by Michael Penn.
Read more about the summit here: New summit gathers many of the world’s fluent Alaska Native language speakers
Contact staff photographer Michael Penn at 523-2262 and mpenn@juneauempire.com.
Tlingit Culture Language and Literacy Dance Group instructors Joshua Jackson, left, and Hans Chester from Harborview Elementary School dance with their students during the Voices of Our Ancestors Language Summit at Centennial Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Members of the Tlingit Culture Language and Literacy Dance Group from Harborview Elementary School dance during the Voices of Our Ancestors Language Summit at Centennial Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Torianna Johnson, left, Aiden Hood, center, and Marigold Lindoff of the Tlingit Culture Language and Literacy Dance Group from Harborview Elementary School address elders at the Voices of Our Ancestors Language Summit at Centennial Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Women dance with the Tlingit Culture Language and Literacy Dance Group from Harborview Elementary School during the Voices of Our Ancestors Language Summit at Centennial Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Tlingit elders David Katzeek, right, and Paul Marks, left, watch as Tyler Frisby, a member of the Tlingit Culture Language and Literacy Dance Group from Harborview Elementary School dance exits during the Voices of Our Ancestors Language Summit at Centennial Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Sealaska Heritage Institute’s President Rosita Worl gives a welcoming address at the Voices of Our Ancestors Language Summit at Centennial Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
X̱ ’unei Lance Twitchell, Associate Professor of Alaska Native Languages Arts and Sciences at the University of Alaska Southeast, speaks about how new words are created in Native languages at the Voices of Our Ancestors Language Summit at Centennial Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Hans Chester, a teacher in the Tlingit Culture, Language and Literacy program at Harborview Elementary School, talks about how new words are created in Native languages at the Voices of Our Ancestors Language Summit at Centennial Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Ruth Demmert, left, and Florence Sheakley talk about how new words are created in Native languages at the Voices of Our Ancestors Language Summit at Centennial Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Gabrielle Shaawatgoox George-Frank, of Angoon, sings a song to start the day at the Voices of Our Ancestors Language Summit at Centennial Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Georgina Sydney, of Teslin, Yukon, has her picture taken by Sealaska Heritage Institute’s Nobu Koch at the Voices of Our Ancestors Language Summit at Centennial Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Gavin Hudson, left, listens to John Reese, of Ketchikan, speak during a breakout session on the Sm’algya̱x language of the Tsimshian people at the Voices of Our Ancestors Language Summit at Centennial Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
