Photo: Preparing for Celebration

The All Nations Childrens dance group (Ldakát Naax Satí Yátx’i) performs at the Walter Soboleff Building on Friday in preparation of Celebration, the biennial gathering of Native peoples and tribes from Southeast Alaska and beyond. The dance group was formed by Vicki Soboleff in 1995 and has grown from 10 dancers to more than 100 today. Barbara Dude, who began performing with the group when she was 6 yeas old, took over Soboleff’s role as group leader in 2015. Celebration kicks off with the cermonial canoe landing at Sandy Beach some time between 11 a.m. and noon Wednesday. For a schedule of events and to read about this year’s Celebration, see Wednesday’s Capital City Weekly or view our Arts and Culture section online at www.juneauempire.com/art.