Alaska Natives

Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska President Richard Chalyee Éesh Peterson speaks at the Juneau Chamber of Commerce luncheon at Elizabeth Peratovich Hall on Thursday, March 12, 2020. Peterson was elected to his third term as President during the 85th Tribal Assembly held virtually this year. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska President Richard Chalyee Éesh Peterson speaks at the Juneau Chamber of Commerce luncheon at Elizabeth Peratovich Hall on Thursday, March 12, 2020. Peterson was elected to his third term as President during the 85th Tribal Assembly held virtually this year. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
85th Tribal Assembly to be all business

85th Tribal Assembly to be all business

Abbreviated Tribal Assembly set for Thursday.

85th Tribal Assembly to be all business
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire                                 The Sealaska Heritage Institute’s downtown arts campus is under construction.

New arts campus construction proceeding on schedule

Work continues without presence of more than a million visitors.

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire                                 The Sealaska Heritage Institute’s downtown arts campus is under construction.
Formline follows function: New ambulance art reaches to cultural roots, fits vehicle’s purpose
Formline follows function: New ambulance art reaches to cultural roots, fits vehicle’s purpose
Program allows some Alaska Native Vietnam vets to get land

Program allows some Alaska Native Vietnam vets to get land

Stewy Carlo had a short life, but he lived every moment.

Program allows some Alaska Native Vietnam vets to get land
Cassandra Cropley holds a poster showing photos of her cousin, Linda Skeek, after the 2020 Women’s March, Jan. 18. Skeek went missing in January 2016 and is feared dead. The Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services is opening seven Operation Lady Justice Task Force cold case offices across the country to concentrate on the number of missing and murdered Indigenous women. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Cold case units focus on missing, murdered Indigenous women

Seven Operation Lady Justice Task Force cold case offices are opening nationwide.

Cassandra Cropley holds a poster showing photos of her cousin, Linda Skeek, after the 2020 Women’s March, Jan. 18. Skeek went missing in January 2016 and is feared dead. The Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services is opening seven Operation Lady Justice Task Force cold case offices across the country to concentrate on the number of missing and murdered Indigenous women. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Courtesy Photo / Break the (Bi)Cycle                                Break the (Bi)Cycle is a movement started by former professional basketball player Damen Bell-Holter to raise money and awareness about the dearth of mental health care for Black and Indigenous men. Bell-Holter will ride from Bellingham, Wash., to San Diego, Calif., more than 1,500 miles, while visiting tribes and documenting the trip.
Courtesy Photo / Break the (Bi)Cycle                                Break the (Bi)Cycle is a movement started by former professional basketball player Damen Bell-Holter to raise money and awareness about the dearth of mental health care for Black and Indigenous men. Bell-Holter will ride from Bellingham, Wash., to San Diego, Calif., more than 1,500 miles, while visiting tribes and documenting the trip.
Tlingit and Haida violence against women co-chair picked for federal post
Tlingit and Haida violence against women co-chair picked for federal post
This composite image shows both the Alaska State, Library, Archives and Museum and the Juneau-Douglas City Museum. Both have made adjustments to a relatively tourism-free summer. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

No tourists means loss and opportunities for museums

The Alaska State Museum usually gets more than 15,000 guests over summer. This year, it’s 500.

This composite image shows both the Alaska State, Library, Archives and Museum and the Juneau-Douglas City Museum. Both have made adjustments to a relatively tourism-free summer. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Tribal Emergency Operations Center responds to crisis across Southeast

Tribal Emergency Operations Center responds to crisis across Southeast

The Tribal Emergency Operations Center is looking out for nearly 35,000 tribal citizens.

Tribal Emergency Operations Center responds to crisis across Southeast
Tribal leaders including Myrna Warrington, far left, of Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, gave Ivanka Trump a ceremonial key when she spoke at the grand opening of the first Missing and Murdered Native American Cold Case Office. American Indians and Alaska Native are 2.5 times as likely to experience violent crimes. This is one of seven offices that is being established under Executive Order 13898 by President Donald J. Trump. (Richard Tsong-Taatarii/Star Tribune)

Feds launch Minnesota office on missing Indigenous cases

It’s the 1st of seven planned offices, including a site in Anchorage

Tribal leaders including Myrna Warrington, far left, of Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, gave Ivanka Trump a ceremonial key when she spoke at the grand opening of the first Missing and Murdered Native American Cold Case Office. American Indians and Alaska Native are 2.5 times as likely to experience violent crimes. This is one of seven offices that is being established under Executive Order 13898 by President Donald J. Trump. (Richard Tsong-Taatarii/Star Tribune)
This map shows regional corporations established by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act in 1971. On Friday, a judge ruled Alaska Native Corporations are eligible to receive federal coronavirus relief funds. (Courtesy Photo | US National Park Service)

Judge rules Alaska Native corporations can get tribal virus relief money

Alaska Native corporations are eligible for relief funding for tribes, a federal judge ruled.

This map shows regional corporations established by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act in 1971. On Friday, a judge ruled Alaska Native Corporations are eligible to receive federal coronavirus relief funds. (Courtesy Photo | US National Park Service)
Screenshot                                Members of Tlingit and Haida’s lunchtime chat discuss the tribal courts system over web conference on June 25.

Tlingit and Haida talks tribal courts at weekly luncheon

Soon, the courts will gain access to several national crime databases.

Screenshot                                Members of Tlingit and Haida’s lunchtime chat discuss the tribal courts system over web conference on June 25.
Irene Lampe dances a robe for its first dance ceremony at the Sealaska Heritage Institute on Monday, June 22, 2020. (Courtesy photo | Annie Bartholomew)

Weavers celebrate new robe with first dance at SHI

The event is part of a resurgent trend for traditional weaving.

Irene Lampe dances a robe for its first dance ceremony at the Sealaska Heritage Institute on Monday, June 22, 2020. (Courtesy photo | Annie Bartholomew)
Morgan Fawcett of Woosh.ji.een of Juneau dances in the Grand Entrance for Celebration 2018 along Willoughby Avenue on Wednesday, June 6, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Morgan Fawcett of Woosh.ji.een of Juneau dances in the Grand Entrance for Celebration 2018 along Willoughby Avenue on Wednesday, June 6, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Courtesy photo | Sealaska Heritage Institute                                 This original Ravenstail-style design, inspired by traditional designs in use for hundreds of years in Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian cultures, was created by Clarissa Rizal, a master weaver, in 1996. (
Courtesy photo | Sealaska Heritage Institute                                 This original Ravenstail-style design, inspired by traditional designs in use for hundreds of years in Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian cultures, was created by Clarissa Rizal, a master weaver, in 1996. (
The Sealaska Corporation Building at Egan Drive and Main Street as seen in June 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Sealaska Corporation creates $1 million fund for coronavirus relief

$500,000 toward dealing with immediate needs have already been disbursed.

The Sealaska Corporation Building at Egan Drive and Main Street as seen in June 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Harvey Shields, from Saxman, Alaska, leads the Cape Fox Dancers during the Grand Entrance of the Sealaska Heritage Institute Celebration 2014 march from the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall to Centennial Hall.This year’s Celebration has been postponed. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Celebration 2020 is postponed

New dates are in 2021.

Harvey Shields, from Saxman, Alaska, leads the Cape Fox Dancers during the Grand Entrance of the Sealaska Heritage Institute Celebration 2014 march from the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall to Centennial Hall.This year’s Celebration has been postponed. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Matthew Quinto, a Thunder Mountain High School student, takes a shot at the one-foot high kick as members of Juneau’s Native Youth Olympic team compete against Whitehorse’s Team Yukon in a traditional games competition over livestreaming video at the University of Alaska Southeast rec center on March 17, 2020. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)
Matthew Quinto, a Thunder Mountain High School student, takes a shot at the one-foot high kick as members of Juneau’s Native Youth Olympic team compete against Whitehorse’s Team Yukon in a traditional games competition over livestreaming video at the University of Alaska Southeast rec center on March 17, 2020. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)
Trinity Jackson, 13, participates in the wrist carry as judge Elizabeth Rexford watches at the Native Youth Olympics 2018 Traditional Games at the University of Alaska Southeast Recreational Center in March 2018. Tuckwood won the event for middle school students. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Juneau hosts 2020 Traditional Games this weekend

Teams will come from across the state — and country.

Trinity Jackson, 13, participates in the wrist carry as judge Elizabeth Rexford watches at the Native Youth Olympics 2018 Traditional Games at the University of Alaska Southeast Recreational Center in March 2018. Tuckwood won the event for middle school students. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)