Alaska Natives

Elizabeth Kaaxgal.aat Peratrovich’s legacy is strong in Juneau, where a recently finished mural and renamed plaza help honor the memory of the civil rights activist. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Organizations unite to celebrate legacy of Elizabeth Peratrovich

Juneau recently named a plaza in her honor.

Elizabeth Kaaxgal.aat Peratrovich’s legacy is strong in Juneau, where a recently finished mural and renamed plaza help honor the memory of the civil rights activist. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Kyle Worl competes in the two-foot high kick at the 2020 Traditional Games. The games this year are being held at Thunder Mountain High School on April 2-3 2022 (Courtesy Photo / Sealaska Heritage Institute)

Kicking for the stars: Registration opens for 2022 Traditional Games

The games will be held here at TMHS in April.

Kyle Worl competes in the two-foot high kick at the 2020 Traditional Games. The games this year are being held at Thunder Mountain High School on April 2-3 2022 (Courtesy Photo / Sealaska Heritage Institute)
Alaska Independent Coach Tour’s busses will be running with the same looks but new management after a joint venture between Huna Totem Corporation and Doyon, Limited founded a joint venture purchasing a controlling interest in the transport company. (Courtesy photo / AICT)

Huna Totem and Doyon announce new joint venture

Their aims are the promotion of sustainable, cultural tourism in transportation, lodging, and tour opportunities.

Alaska Independent Coach Tour’s busses will be running with the same looks but new management after a joint venture between Huna Totem Corporation and Doyon, Limited founded a joint venture purchasing a controlling interest in the transport company. (Courtesy photo / AICT)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska recently acquired a pair of buildings downtown near the Andrew Hope Building as it hopes to provide more office space to centralize services for its citizens.

Tlingit and Haida president talks new buildings, future expansion

The tribe is taking steps to consolidate a number of its offices downtown.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska recently acquired a pair of buildings downtown near the Andrew Hope Building as it hopes to provide more office space to centralize services for its citizens.
Signatures for a ballot initiative to have the State of Alaska recognize the 229 federally-recognized tribal governments were submitted to Division of Elections offices in Anchorage Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022. The campaign was able to collect 56,230 signatures - well over the minimum requirement - meaning Alaskan voters will likely see the initiative on the November ballot. (Courtesy photo / Alaskans for Better Government)

Campaigners submit over 56,000 signatures for tribal recognition initiative

State has 60 days to reply.

Signatures for a ballot initiative to have the State of Alaska recognize the 229 federally-recognized tribal governments were submitted to Division of Elections offices in Anchorage Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022. The campaign was able to collect 56,230 signatures - well over the minimum requirement - meaning Alaskan voters will likely see the initiative on the November ballot. (Courtesy photo / Alaskans for Better Government)
Courtesy art /SHI There are ten proposed locations for a “totem pole trail” that the Sealaska Heritage Foundation just received a $2.9 million dollar grant for, as well as the location of a new 360-degree totem pole to be raised separately in the SHI arts campus downtown.

Sealaska Heritage gets multimillion dollar grant for totem pole trail

Before these ten go up, however, a unique totem pole will be raised in the new arts campus downtown.

Courtesy art /SHI There are ten proposed locations for a “totem pole trail” that the Sealaska Heritage Foundation just received a $2.9 million dollar grant for, as well as the location of a new 360-degree totem pole to be raised separately in the SHI arts campus downtown.
Dan Martinez, emergency manager for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, pauses in a classroom used to store donated water on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021, in, Warm Springs, Ore. In Oregon, tribal officials have handed out about 3 million gallons (11 million liters) of water — almost all of it donated — from a decommissioned elementary school on the reservation. (AP Photo / Nathan Howard)

US tribes see hope for clean water in infrastructure bill

Erland Suppah Jr. doesn’t trust what comes out of his faucet.

Dan Martinez, emergency manager for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, pauses in a classroom used to store donated water on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021, in, Warm Springs, Ore. In Oregon, tribal officials have handed out about 3 million gallons (11 million liters) of water — almost all of it donated — from a decommissioned elementary school on the reservation. (AP Photo / Nathan Howard)
This map, provided by Alaska Natives Without Land, shows possible federal land grants for the landless community of Tenakee Springs, one of five communities in Alaska not granted land by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act in 1971. (Screenshot)

50 years after ANCSA, some still fighting for land

The five landless communities and Vietnam veterans were left landless by the act.

This map, provided by Alaska Natives Without Land, shows possible federal land grants for the landless community of Tenakee Springs, one of five communities in Alaska not granted land by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act in 1971. (Screenshot)
Dorothy Thomson stands while giving a thumbs down as Gov. Mike Dunleavy gives his State of Alaska Address during the 2019 Alaska Federation of Natives Convention Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019. The 2019 convention was the last in-person convention as the COVID-19 pandemic has caused the meeting to go digital for the second year in a row. (Eric Engman/Fairbanks Daily News-Miner via AP)

‘Relationships are key’: AFN Convention brings leaders to the table

All levels of leadership.

Dorothy Thomson stands while giving a thumbs down as Gov. Mike Dunleavy gives his State of Alaska Address during the 2019 Alaska Federation of Natives Convention Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019. The 2019 convention was the last in-person convention as the COVID-19 pandemic has caused the meeting to go digital for the second year in a row. (Eric Engman/Fairbanks Daily News-Miner via AP)
Angela Ketah holds a bright bouquet of fresh flowers for her business, Sitka Flower & the Chocolate Moose. Angela’s dedication to her team’s wellbeing and growth has helped her lead the way through the difficulties of the pandemic, setting an example for entrepreneurs around the region. (Courtesy Photo / Lione Clare)

Resilient Peoples & Place: Sitka Flowers The Chocolate Moose is a small business growing with its team

Small businesses like Sitka Flowers The Chocolate Moose bring character to our downtown streets.

Angela Ketah holds a bright bouquet of fresh flowers for her business, Sitka Flower & the Chocolate Moose. Angela’s dedication to her team’s wellbeing and growth has helped her lead the way through the difficulties of the pandemic, setting an example for entrepreneurs around the region. (Courtesy Photo / Lione Clare)
This undated photos shows National Day of Mourning plaque on Cole's Hill in Plymouth, Mass, where since 1970 Indigenous groups have gathered to mourn the history of colonization in North America. This year marks the 400th anniversary of the traditional "First Thanksgiving " in 1621, but for many Indigenous people, including Alaska Natives, the holiday is a somber one. (Courtesy photo / Creative commons)

Thanksgiving has somber context for Indigenous Americans

New narratives.

This undated photos shows National Day of Mourning plaque on Cole's Hill in Plymouth, Mass, where since 1970 Indigenous groups have gathered to mourn the history of colonization in North America. This year marks the 400th anniversary of the traditional "First Thanksgiving " in 1621, but for many Indigenous people, including Alaska Natives, the holiday is a somber one. (Courtesy photo / Creative commons)
The Wrangell Institute was one of many residential schools in Alaska dedicated to involuntarily teaching the Indigenous people of the state European ways of living, forcibly breaking them from their own Alaska Native cultures. (Courtesy photo / National Park Service)

Churches respond to revelations about residential schools

That acknowledgement is taking a number of forms, varying by institution.

The Wrangell Institute was one of many residential schools in Alaska dedicated to involuntarily teaching the Indigenous people of the state European ways of living, forcibly breaking them from their own Alaska Native cultures. (Courtesy photo / National Park Service)
Artists of the inaugural Rock Aak’w Indigenous Music Festival gather beneath the mural of Elizabeth Peratrovich on the Juneau waterfront on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. This year the ceremony was all virtual, but organizers wanted to open the festival in person. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Rock Aak’w festival opens with songs, dancing and drumming

Rock Aak’w by seawalk.

Artists of the inaugural Rock Aak’w Indigenous Music Festival gather beneath the mural of Elizabeth Peratrovich on the Juneau waterfront on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. This year the ceremony was all virtual, but organizers wanted to open the festival in person. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The Healing Hand Foundation is holding a black tie dinner honoring Ethel Lund, a pioneer in tribal healthcare, on her 90th birthday as it fundraises for a new scholarship. (Courtesy photo / HHF)

Nonprofit holding 90th birthday gala for tribal health care trailblazer

The gala is funraising for a scholarship for other prospective Alaska Native healthcare workers.

The Healing Hand Foundation is holding a black tie dinner honoring Ethel Lund, a pioneer in tribal healthcare, on her 90th birthday as it fundraises for a new scholarship. (Courtesy photo / HHF)
Tlingit master carver Wayne Price, left, and students from Angoon High School wheel a dugout canoe down to the Angoon waterfront on Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021, for a ceremony commemorating the bombardment of the village by the U.S. Navy in 1882. Dugout canoes were specifically targeted by the navy for destruction, and Price said crafting a new one was a way of healing from the past. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Remembering and rebuilding: Angoon residents commemorate 139 years since bombardment

‘We’re still here.”

Tlingit master carver Wayne Price, left, and students from Angoon High School wheel a dugout canoe down to the Angoon waterfront on Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021, for a ceremony commemorating the bombardment of the village by the U.S. Navy in 1882. Dugout canoes were specifically targeted by the navy for destruction, and Price said crafting a new one was a way of healing from the past. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Stephen Qucang Blanchett, creative director of Rock Aak’w Indigenous Music Festival, shoots an ad for the festival, which will begin on Nov. 5, at Mayor Bill Overstreet Park on Oct. 19, 2021.

‘The sky’s the limit’: Hopes are high for upcoming Indigenous music festival

Are you ready to r-Aak’w?

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Stephen Qucang Blanchett, creative director of Rock Aak’w Indigenous Music Festival, shoots an ad for the festival, which will begin on Nov. 5, at Mayor Bill Overstreet Park on Oct. 19, 2021.
This map from the U.S. Cencsus Bureau highlighting Alaska's indigenous populations. A ballot initiative to have the State of Alaska formally recognize the state's already federally recognized tribes took a step forward Monday, when it was certified by the Division of Elections. (Courtesy image/ Wikicommons)

Tribal recognition initiative moves ahead

Mending divisions.

This map from the U.S. Cencsus Bureau highlighting Alaska's indigenous populations. A ballot initiative to have the State of Alaska formally recognize the state's already federally recognized tribes took a step forward Monday, when it was certified by the Division of Elections. (Courtesy image/ Wikicommons)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Speakers address participants in the Alaska Native Brotherhood/Alaska Native Sisterhood’s 109th Grand Camp Convention at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Oct. 8, 2021.

Alaska Native Brotherhood/Sisterhood Grand Camp Convention underway

The Grand Camp Convention returns (mostly) in-person after a year’s absence due to pandemic.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Speakers address participants in the Alaska Native Brotherhood/Alaska Native Sisterhood’s 109th Grand Camp Convention at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Oct. 8, 2021.
Alaska Native artists Lily Hope, left, and Stephen Qacung Blanchett, right, were selected as two of the fifteen Indigenous artists to receive $100,000 grants for upcoming projects by the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation. (Photo credit: @SydneyAkagiPhoto for Hope and Joy Denmert for Blanchett)

Foundation awards $100k to Indigenous artists and partnering organizations

Two artists living in Juneau were named as awardees.

Alaska Native artists Lily Hope, left, and Stephen Qacung Blanchett, right, were selected as two of the fifteen Indigenous artists to receive $100,000 grants for upcoming projects by the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation. (Photo credit: @SydneyAkagiPhoto for Hope and Joy Denmert for Blanchett)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire More than a hundred gathered at an Orange Shirt Day event near Sandy Beach on Sept. 30, 2021, a remembrance of the Indigenous children killed in North America in the residential school system.

Passionate crowd turns out for Orange Shirt Day event

More than a hundred braved driving rain for remembrance of missing children.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire More than a hundred gathered at an Orange Shirt Day event near Sandy Beach on Sept. 30, 2021, a remembrance of the Indigenous children killed in North America in the residential school system.