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SHI will sponsor a lecture series on Raven as Trickster and Cultural Hero by traditional Tlingit and Tsimshian storytellers this month. On May 30, Tsimshian storytelling David Nelson III will be our guest. All lectures will be held in-person at noon (Alaska time) at the Walter Soboleff Building in Juneau, live streamed, and saved to our YouTube.

The Juneau School District (JSD) has selected Eldri Westmoreland to lead the Tlingit Culture, Language, and Literacy (TCLL) Program, a groundbreaking elementary school program established by Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) and the JSD in 2000. Westmoreland will be TCLL’s first permanent principal, replacing interim principal Molly Box.

SHI has digitized and posted on YouTube the video of Celebration 2010. Celebration is a dance-and-culture festival first held by SHI in 1982 that has grown into the world’s largest gathering of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people. The 2010 event featured 51 dance groups from Alaska, the Lower 48 and Canada. 

SHI and Tlingit and Haida are offering separate scholarships for travel to the sixth Culturally Responsive Education Conference in June. The University of Alaska Southeast and Best Western Country Lane Inn also have housing available on a first-come, first-served basis.

SHI will sponsor a beginning class on elements of chasing and repousse in Juneau from June 10-July 12 with teacher Rudolph Isturis. Previous chasing and repousse experience is encouraged, but not necessary to apply. (Flyer)

SHI, with partners Sunfish Inc. and the University of Calgary, will hold community demonstration days in Klawock and Craig on exploring ancient underwater caves by Prince of Wales Island. Craig: Saturday, June 10, 10 am-12 pm, False Island Boat Launch, next to fuel dock. Klawock: Saturday, June 10, 2-4 pm, Klawock Boat Launch. This research led to a big discovery in 2022!

We still have space in our in-person storytelling intensive, which improves literacy skills and increases the use of Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian languages through performing arts and digital storytelling. This is for Juneau residents, our virtual storytelling intensive for people living outside of Juneau is full. (Flyer)

Do you care about the natural world? Enjoy spending time outside? Love making things? Earn high school credits and explore your career options in the Opening the Box STEAM Mentorship Program. (Flyer)

Do you work in a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) career field? Mentor an Alaska Native or Native American high school student exploring their future career options in STEAM! (Flyer)

SHI has digitized and posted on YouTube the video of Celebration 2008. Celebration is a dance-and-culture festival first held by SHI in 1982 that has grown into the world’s largest gathering of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people. The 2008 event featured 52 dance groups from Alaska, the Lower 48 and Canada.

SHI has digitized and posted on YouTube the video of Celebration 2006. Celebration is a dance-and-culture festival first held by SHI in 1982 that has grown into the world’s largest gathering of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people. The 2006 event featured 43 dance groups from Alaska and Canada.

SHI will sponsor a running camp in Metlakatla for 25 incoming 6th-8th grade Alaska Native student athletes. The focus of Na G̱atlleedm Running Camp is to improve strength of body, mind, and spirit while fostering the connection between our lives and land through running from June 12-16. (Flyer)

SHI has opened a new exhibit celebrating the rich traditions and real-life experiences of Alaska Native female artists. The exhibit, Native Women’s Art: Drawn From the Spirits of Ancestors Within, features nearly 60 works by 56 artists from Alaska’s major Indigenous groups, including the Alutiiq, Athabaskan, Inupiat, Yupik, Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian.

SHI will sponsor a class on how to sew skins by Machine from June 2-4. The class will be taught by Louise Kadinger. Space is limited. $100 fee covers a sea otter hide at a $350 value, as well as patterns, supplies, and instruction. (Flyer)

LOS ANGELES: Learn how to make moccasins! SHI will sponsor a class on how to make moccasins with Tlingit teacher Carmaleeda Estrada in Los Angeles from June 1-4. Fee: $75—includes all supplies needed to make one pair of moccasins per participant. No experience necessary.

SHI is seeking nominations for its 2023 Culturally Responsive Education Awards. Ten awards from three categories will be presented during the Our Cultural Landscape conference on Friday, June 15, 2023. Nomination deadline: May 26. They make a huge difference. Let’s tell them so!

SHI, in partnership with UAS, operates Indigenizing Education for Alaska, to grow the number of Alaska Native teachers and administrators and improve educational opportunities for Alaska Native students. We are currently offering scholarships that fully fund enrolled UAS College of Education students for summer 2023. (Flyer)

SHI has enlisted renowned, nationally-known educators to give keynote addresses at its sixth Culturally Responsive Education Conference for teachers and administrators, which is part of a larger effort to promote culturally responsive pedagogy in schools. The event, Our Cultural Landscape, has drawn some of the best professionals in the field, 

Hone your acting, singing, dancing and Lingít skills! SHI will offer a one-day Indigenous performing arts workshop focusing on acting, singing, dancing, and the Tlingit language on Saturday, May 20. The workshop will be led by Ed Littlefield, Lyle James, Kolene James, and Lance Twitchell. (Flyer)

SHI has digitized and posted on YouTube video of Celebration 2004. Celebration is a dance-and-culture festival first held by SHI in 1982 that has grown into the world’s largest gathering of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people. The 2004 event featured 43 dance groups from Alaska, New Zealand, Hawaii, the Lower 48 and Canada.

Sealaska Heritage, in partnership with the Organized Village of Kasaan, will sponsor an in-person, hand skin-sewing workshop in Kasaan with teacher Aánutein (Debbie Head) from May 18-21. $100 fee covers a sea otter hide at a $350 value, as well as patterns, supplies, and instruction. Space is limited. (Flyer)

SHI held a dedication ceremony on April 22 for the first 12 totem poles of Kootéeyaa Deiyí (Totem Pole Trail) and the installation of bronze masks at Heritage Plaza by SHI's arts campus honoring the five major Native groups of Alaska. Watch this historic event, which was part of SHI's vision to make Juneau the Northwest Coast arts capital of the world!

SHI has opened the application period for its in-person and virtual storytelling Voices on the Land summer storytelling intensives, which improve literacy skills and increase the use of Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian languages through performing arts and digital storytelling. (Apply)

SHI, with the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS), operates Indigenizing Education for Alaska to grow the number of Alaska Native teachers and education professionals. SHI is currently offering scholarships that fund tuition, fees, and books for students taking summer and fall courses UAS. (Flyer)