November 21, 2009
Alaska / Hawaii
Alaska island village hit by suspected swine flu
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Suspected swine flu is sweeping a traditional Eskimo whaling village on a remote Alaska island – prompting an urgent medical mission to deliver help.
Douglas Fifer, Top 40 from the 49th state
Douglas Fifer, a police officer and small business owner, says his Alaska Native Tlingit family values of respect, responsibility and working hard for what one wants contributed to the success he enjoys today.
Local nonprofit presents Huaka’i on Hawaiian feather kahili
HONOLULU – On Oct. 4, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, in partnership with the ‘Ahahui Siwila Hawai’i O Kapōlei and Bishop Museum, hosted a Huaka’i on the traditional Hawaiian treasure and art of making a handheld feather Kahili.
Native community reclaims history of Alutiiq masks
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – For more than 100 years, more than 70 Alutiiq ceremonial masks were housed in a museum in France, honored as art yet completely cut off from their original cultural context.
The land of many welcomes
1 of 3 in a series In Alaska, there is always a story being told, always a teaching being offered. Some stories and teachings are offered by people whose heritage dates to creation. Some are offered by the environment that has challenged, inspired and sustained them for millennia.
Juneau home to southeast Alaska Native research center
JUNEAU, Alaska – The Sealaska Heritage Institute in Juneau recently opened its doors to the redesigned and expanded Special Collections Research Center. The center holds extensive archival recordings of traditional Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian ceremonies as well as historical documents, photographs and cultural objects.
Victory for Yup’ik speakers
CHESAPEAKE, Va. – A federal court judge in Anchorage has ordered that state elections officials provide “effective” language assistance for Yup’ik-speaking citizens in the upcoming Aug. 26 election.
Elders working to save Kenai’s first language
KENAI, Alaska (AP) – Members of a Kenai tribe are trying to preserve their cultural heritage by keeping their language alive. The Kenaitze Indian Tribe, in partnership with the Administration for Native Americans, Alaska Native Heritage Center and Cook Inlet Tribal Council, recently hosted the Dena’ina Language Institute to preserve, revitalize and perpetuate the Dena’ina language.
Morales and hundreds of tribal leaders in historic Alaska meeting
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Hundreds of tribal leaders will travel to Alaska later this month for a historic meeting with Bolivian President Evo Morales.
Sealaska infuses millions into southeast Alaska economy
JUNEAU, Alaska – According to a new report, Sealaska Corporation, Sealaska Timber Corporation and the Sealaska Heritage Institute spent a combined $41 million in 2007 in southeast Alaska. The report, “The Impact of Sealaska Corporation on the Southeast Alaska Economy,” was recently released by the McDowell Group, based in Juneau.
