Capital City Weekly

Courtesy of the Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band
Julia Keefe, a Native American singer who has gained national acclaim performing with a wide range of musicians and settings during the past 15 years, is headlining this spring’s Juneau Jazz Classics festival with concerts by her Indigenous Big Band and a Native jazz quintet.

A huge Indigenous ‘family’ reunion at Jazz Classics

Musicians with tribal roots from Canada to South America converge for Indigenous Big Band concerts

Courtesy of the Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band
Julia Keefe, a Native American singer who has gained national acclaim performing with a wide range of musicians and settings during the past 15 years, is headlining this spring’s Juneau Jazz Classics festival with concerts by her Indigenous Big Band and a Native jazz quintet.
From left to right, Megan Peirce, Ava Grimes, Kyra Wood and Johnathan Gee-Miles star in Juneau high school’s collaborative production of the classic “The Wizard of Oz” at JDHS auditorium. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
From left to right, Megan Peirce, Ava Grimes, Kyra Wood and Johnathan Gee-Miles star in Juneau high school’s collaborative production of the classic “The Wizard of Oz” at JDHS auditorium. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Salmon Northwest Coast art on the Wrangell Cooperative Association community smokehouse. (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)

Planet Alaska: Smokehouse values

There are many ways to smoke salmon, but it takes discipline to take the time to learn and listen.

Salmon Northwest Coast art on the Wrangell Cooperative Association community smokehouse. (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)
Bears greet each other on Chichagof Island. (Courtesy Photo / Elleana Elliott)

Planet Alaska: Elleana Elliott — traveling an island of bears

This award-winning article has been moved in front of the Juneau Empire’s paywall. “My first bear encounter was when I was young. I walked out… Continue reading

Bears greet each other on Chichagof Island. (Courtesy Photo / Elleana Elliott)
This photo shows Spam Musubi with Southeast Alaskan Furikake and Highbush Cranberry dipping sauce. (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)

Planet Alaska: Furikake — A sprinkle of summer

Pronounced FOO-ree-kaw-kay, meaning “to sprinkle.”

This photo shows Spam Musubi with Southeast Alaskan Furikake and Highbush Cranberry dipping sauce. (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)
This image, which uses a photo by Alyssa Patrick, shows the cover of "Sonus," a new album from Sean Patrick of Gustavus. The album was made available on streaming on Wednesday, April 20, and can be ordered on CD. (Courtesy Photo / Alyssa Patrick)
This image, which uses a photo by Alyssa Patrick, shows the cover of "Sonus," a new album from Sean Patrick of Gustavus. The album was made available on streaming on Wednesday, April 20, and can be ordered on CD. (Courtesy Photo / Alyssa Patrick)
University of Alaska Southeast freshman Micheal Bethel paints a piece titled “Parents” on Friday while at an art gallery hosted Friday evening at UAS that showcased students’ work from the UAS Northwest Coast Art program. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
University of Alaska Southeast freshman Micheal Bethel paints a piece titled “Parents” on Friday while at an art gallery hosted Friday evening at UAS that showcased students’ work from the UAS Northwest Coast Art program. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
The students and instructors of the University of Alaska Southeast’s Policy & Procedure Practicum course in the lobby of Anchorage’s Egan Center while attending the Federal Subsistence Board Meeting during the first week of February. (Lee House / Sitka Conservation Society)

Resilient Peoples & Place: Bringing the next generation’s voices to the table

“Getting engaged starts at the kitchen table with what you’re feeding your family.”

The students and instructors of the University of Alaska Southeast’s Policy & Procedure Practicum course in the lobby of Anchorage’s Egan Center while attending the Federal Subsistence Board Meeting during the first week of February. (Lee House / Sitka Conservation Society)
Alan Cleveland shares his experiences as a Juneau taxi driver to a packed house at Ḵunéix̱ Hídi Northern Light United Church as part of Mudrooms final showcase of the season on Tuesday night. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Mudrooms wraps up another successful season

Application period now open for nonprofit beneficiaries.

Alan Cleveland shares his experiences as a Juneau taxi driver to a packed house at Ḵunéix̱ Hídi Northern Light United Church as part of Mudrooms final showcase of the season on Tuesday night. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Photos by Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire 
Lisa Puananimôhala’ikalani Denny sings while on stage at the Alaskan Hotel and Bar during the Alaska Folk Festival side-stage event “Unceded” Tuesday evening. Below, Lester Joel Rodriguez also performed during the event.

‘Unceded’ Folk Fest event celebrates artists of color and the diversity of folk music

Nearly a dozen Southeast Alaska-based Black, Indigenous and other artists of color took the stage.

Photos by Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire 
Lisa Puananimôhala’ikalani Denny sings while on stage at the Alaskan Hotel and Bar during the Alaska Folk Festival side-stage event “Unceded” Tuesday evening. Below, Lester Joel Rodriguez also performed during the event.
Courtesy Photo / Sunny Pittman 
Artwork by Skate Board member Jordan Kendall can be seen behind a skater at the Pipeline.

The Pipeline timeline, and where the Juneau skate park is wheeling off to next

The story starts with a group of teens in the mid-’90s. Now, the park is heading toward a new era.

Courtesy Photo / Sunny Pittman 
Artwork by Skate Board member Jordan Kendall can be seen behind a skater at the Pipeline.
The series “Credible, Idiot Strings” features cotton fabric, nylon thread and steel wire to draw attention to the high rates of suicide in Alaska Native and Indigenous communities. The series is a part of the new exhibition “Visceral: Verity” on display at the Alaska State Museum and featured during the April First Friday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
The series “Credible, Idiot Strings” features cotton fabric, nylon thread and steel wire to draw attention to the high rates of suicide in Alaska Native and Indigenous communities. The series is a part of the new exhibition “Visceral: Verity” on display at the Alaska State Museum and featured during the April First Friday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Cover art for the 2023 University of Alaska Southeast’s Tidal Echoes literary magazine, which launches on Friday at the UAS campus from 6:30-8 p.m. (Courtesy Photo / Shaelene Grace Moler)

Tidal Echoes launches latest edition

Chloey Cavanaugh and Lin Davis featured artists.

Cover art for the 2023 University of Alaska Southeast’s Tidal Echoes literary magazine, which launches on Friday at the UAS campus from 6:30-8 p.m. (Courtesy Photo / Shaelene Grace Moler)
Jo March (Ema Zivkovic) reacts to an overture from one-time playmate Theodore "Laurie" Laurence (Jack Scholz) during rehearsal for Perseverance Theatre and University of Alaska Anchorage's Department of Theatre and Dance's upcoming production of "Little Women."

Get ready for Marches in April

It’s almost the big day for “Little Women.”

Jo March (Ema Zivkovic) reacts to an overture from one-time playmate Theodore "Laurie" Laurence (Jack Scholz) during rehearsal for Perseverance Theatre and University of Alaska Anchorage's Department of Theatre and Dance's upcoming production of "Little Women."
Angie Flickinger harvests spruce tips in Wrangell. (Courtesy Photo / Asia Dore Photography)

Planet Alaska: Waterbody — Celebrating place

Wrangell is not a place you might imagine there’d be a skin care company…

Angie Flickinger harvests spruce tips in Wrangell. (Courtesy Photo / Asia Dore Photography)
Robert DeMaine, principal cellist of the L.A. Philharmonic, is scheduled to perform Dvorak’s Cello Concerto during a pair of concerts this weekend by the Juneau Symphony. (Courtesy Photo/ Daniel Lippitt)
Robert DeMaine, principal cellist of the L.A. Philharmonic, is scheduled to perform Dvorak’s Cello Concerto during a pair of concerts this weekend by the Juneau Symphony. (Courtesy Photo/ Daniel Lippitt)
Moby the Mobile Greenhouse is a traveling greenhouse project of the Sustainable Southeast Partnership. Since 2016, Moby has helped jumpstart communities of growers in communities from Kake and Hoonah, to Pelican–where Moby is currently being utilized. (Courtesy Photo / Lione Clare)

Resilient Peoples & Place: Traditional food fair and farmers summit represent breadth of Southeast Alaska’s food system

Southeast is energized for a new season of cultivating and harvesting a bounty of fresh local food.

Moby the Mobile Greenhouse is a traveling greenhouse project of the Sustainable Southeast Partnership. Since 2016, Moby has helped jumpstart communities of growers in communities from Kake and Hoonah, to Pelican–where Moby is currently being utilized. (Courtesy Photo / Lione Clare)
This image shows the Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament's logo. The club is looking for submissions of logos for the historic tournament's 75th anniversary. The winning artist will receive a $250 prize. (Screenshot)

Take your shot at a Gold Medal logo

Upcoming milestone prompts call for art.

This image shows the Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament's logo. The club is looking for submissions of logos for the historic tournament's 75th anniversary. The winning artist will receive a $250 prize. (Screenshot)
Abel Ryan leads classes in sketching a killer whale on the final day of class. (Courtesy Photo / David Sheakley-Early)

Formline lessons bring geometry and art together for TMHS students

It was a quiet library as students bent over sketchbooks and concentrated on drawing Alaska Native designs including an eagle, wolf and killer whale. They… Continue reading

Abel Ryan leads classes in sketching a killer whale on the final day of class. (Courtesy Photo / David Sheakley-Early)
Sockeye salmon return to Steep Creek to spawn during the summer months of 2022. Residents and youth in Juneau are invited to learn more about the species at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center this Saturday for the final installment of the Mendenhall Minis series of the winter. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Learn more about salmon at this winter’s final Mendenhall Minis event

The series returned in-person after two years of online only

Sockeye salmon return to Steep Creek to spawn during the summer months of 2022. Residents and youth in Juneau are invited to learn more about the species at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center this Saturday for the final installment of the Mendenhall Minis series of the winter. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)