Alaska Natives

Cellphone, recess, cray cray: How Tlingit speakers are coining new words in an ancient language

Cellphone, recess, cray cray: How Tlingit speakers are coining new words in an ancient language

Old languages need new words.

Cellphone, recess, cray cray: How Tlingit speakers are coining new words in an ancient language
Celebrate Our Ways of Life swaps speeches for conversations

Celebrate Our Ways of Life swaps speeches for conversations

Instead of a night of speeches, this year’s Celebrating Our Ways of Life embraced hands-on activities. The Alaska Native Heritage Month celebration hosted by Central… Continue reading

Celebrate Our Ways of Life swaps speeches for conversations
Photos: Celebrating Our Ways of Life

Photos: Celebrating Our Ways of Life

Scenes from the Celebrating Our Ways of Life event.

Photos: Celebrating Our Ways of Life
Bob Sam, a Tlingit storyteller who has served as caretaker of a Sitka cemetery for decades and works to repatriate and reinter indigenous people, leaves the lectern to walk into the crowd during his Evening at Egan lecture about respecting ancestors Friday, Nov. 16 at Egan Library. (Ben Hohenstatt | Capital City Weekly)

Cemetery caretaker helps repatriate remains of Alaska Native children

Bob Sam lives up to his name. “My Tlingit name is Shaagunastaa,” Sam said during his Evening at Egan lecture Friday night at the University… Continue reading

Bob Sam, a Tlingit storyteller who has served as caretaker of a Sitka cemetery for decades and works to repatriate and reinter indigenous people, leaves the lectern to walk into the crowd during his Evening at Egan lecture about respecting ancestors Friday, Nov. 16 at Egan Library. (Ben Hohenstatt | Capital City Weekly)
New summit gathers many of the world’s fluent Alaska Native language speakers

New summit gathers many of the world’s fluent Alaska Native language speakers

Centennial Hall echoed Tuesday with the sound of centuries-old languages. The first-ever Voices of Our Ancestors language summit brought together dozens of speakers fluent in… Continue reading

New summit gathers many of the world’s fluent Alaska Native language speakers
Culture celebrated with song, dance, art and more

Culture celebrated with song, dance, art and more

First-ever Rock Your Mocs event was held Saturday.

Culture celebrated with song, dance, art and more
Alaska Native word of the week

Alaska Native word of the week

This week’s word is x‘áakw, which means sockeye that has entered fresh water.

Alaska Native word of the week
Wayne Price, master Tlingit carver and Associate Professor of Northwest Coast Arts and Sciences, works on a healing pole at the University of Alaska Southeast on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Master carver shares stories of canoe travel

The canoe is currently on display.

Wayne Price, master Tlingit carver and Associate Professor of Northwest Coast Arts and Sciences, works on a healing pole at the University of Alaska Southeast on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Tlingit and Haida president presents at UAS to start Alaska Native Heritage Month

Tlingit and Haida president presents at UAS to start Alaska Native Heritage Month

The tribe’s finances are in good shape.

Tlingit and Haida president presents at UAS to start Alaska Native Heritage Month
The Yees Ku Oo Dancers perform on stage during Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations at the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Monday, Oct. 8, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Language takes center stage at Indigenous Peoples Day celebration

Monday’s Indigenous Peoples Day celebration put an emphasis on Alaska Native languages.

The Yees Ku Oo Dancers perform on stage during Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations at the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Monday, Oct. 8, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
All Nations Children Dancers help Juneau residents celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Indigenous Peoples Day celebration is free Monday

Monday is Indigenous Peoples Day, and multiple Alaska Native groups in Juneau are combining to put on a celebration. From 5-8 p.m. Monday, people are… Continue reading

All Nations Children Dancers help Juneau residents celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Ricky Tagaban smiles at a Tiny Desk concert at Kindred Post. Tagaban said his work in drag and weaving are both related to gender identity. Photo by Annie Bartholomew.

Chilkat weaver, drag queen wins award and $7,500 from Rasmuson Foundation

Ricky Tagaban has a garbage bag of mountain goat wool and $7,500 in award money. Tagaban, a Chilkat weaver and drag queen, of Juneau is… Continue reading

Ricky Tagaban smiles at a Tiny Desk concert at Kindred Post. Tagaban said his work in drag and weaving are both related to gender identity. Photo by Annie Bartholomew.
Library intern organizes Native culture fest

Library intern organizes Native culture fest

The Douglas Public library wasn’t quiet Saturday. The sounds of drums, singing and dancing from the Woosh.ji.een Dance Group echoed out from the library’s meeting… Continue reading

Library intern organizes Native culture fest
Melissa Jack, right, of Kotzebue, right, stands with her daughter, Ashlyn, and Dorothy Zura during a candlelight vigil for Ashley Johnson-Barr on Monday, Sept. 17, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Dozens gather in Juneau to honor deceased Kotzebue girl

More than 100 people who stood outside the Andrew Hope Building on Monday night for a candlelight vigil in honor of Ashley Johnson-Barr.

Melissa Jack, right, of Kotzebue, right, stands with her daughter, Ashlyn, and Dorothy Zura during a candlelight vigil for Ashley Johnson-Barr on Monday, Sept. 17, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Alaska Native students learn about heritage through internship at Sequoyah National Research Center

Alaska Native students learn about heritage through internship at Sequoyah National Research Center

Two Alaska Native students are getting in touch with their heritage by serving as interns at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Sequoyah National… Continue reading

Alaska Native students learn about heritage through internship at Sequoyah National Research Center
Haines Tlingit master carver Wayne Price waves Haines residents during the unveiling of a Tlingit screen and totem poles in front of the Soboleff McRae Wellness Center in Haines on Thursday, April 27, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Master carver joins UAS faculty

Already a well known name in Southeast Alaska and in Alaska Native artwork, Tlingit Master Carver Wayne Price is preparing to pass on his knowledge… Continue reading

Haines Tlingit master carver Wayne Price waves Haines residents during the unveiling of a Tlingit screen and totem poles in front of the Soboleff McRae Wellness Center in Haines on Thursday, April 27, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Portion of bronze and wooden house posts by TJ Young. (Courtesy Photo | Preston Singletary via Sealasksa Heritage Institute)

Bronze house posts to be unveiled Sunday downtown

Three bronze house posts will take their place in front of the Walter Soboleff Building in downtown Juneau this Sunday. Each post is made by… Continue reading

Portion of bronze and wooden house posts by TJ Young. (Courtesy Photo | Preston Singletary via Sealasksa Heritage Institute)
In this July 2015 photo, musician Archie Cavanaugh plays his guitar during lunch hour Friday at the Gold Creek Salmon Bake near Twin Lakes.

Award-winning Tlingit artist dies

Award-winning Tlingit artist and musician Archie Cavanaugh died last week at the age of 67, leaving a long legacy of ambitious and meaningful art and… Continue reading

In this July 2015 photo, musician Archie Cavanaugh plays his guitar during lunch hour Friday at the Gold Creek Salmon Bake near Twin Lakes.
In this July 2015 photo, musician Archie Cavanaugh plays his guitar during lunch hour Friday at the Gold Creek Salmon Bake near Twin Lakes. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Award-winning Tlingit artist dies

Award-winning Tlingit artist and musician Archie Cavanaugh died last week at the age of 67, leaving a long legacy of ambitious and meaningful art and… Continue reading

In this July 2015 photo, musician Archie Cavanaugh plays his guitar during lunch hour Friday at the Gold Creek Salmon Bake near Twin Lakes. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Joe Kahken, a retired President & CEO of Goldbelt, Inc., speaks about his time with the Juneau-area Alaska Native corporation during an interview on Wednesday, August 1, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

People of Juneau: Goldbelt’s first CEO reflects on lifetime of involvement

Today, Goldbelt Inc. is a booming Alaska Native corporation that owns lands throughout Southeast Alaska and has thrived in the realms of logging and tourism.… Continue reading

Joe Kahken, a retired President & CEO of Goldbelt, Inc., speaks about his time with the Juneau-area Alaska Native corporation during an interview on Wednesday, August 1, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)