Sealaska Heritage Institute
SHI's Celebration Programs
CELEBRATION
together we live in balance.
A centuries-old tradition since 1982. Next Celebration: June 5-8, 2024
Sealaska Heritage will hold Celebration in Juneau from June 5-8, 2024 which will be live television broadcasted locally and webcasted worldwide. This years theme is “Together We Live in Balance”.
Celebration is one of the largest gatherings of Southeast Alaska Native peoples, drawing thousands of people, including more than 2,000 dancers. Celebration is also a financial boon for Juneau, according to research. A study by the McDowell Group in 2012 found that the economic impact of Celebration that year was $2 million.
Celebration Tickets
WHERE/WHEN TO BUY TICKETS:
1. Celebration tickets can be purchased at Centennial Hall during the event, or at the SHI store beginning 1 week prior to the event.
2. Tickets and programs can be purchased at the front gate of the event beginning on June 5th
Four-day pass:
General: $35
Youth (ages 7-12): $20
Elder (ages 65+): $20
Children ages 6 and under: Free
Daily admission:
General: $20
Youth (ages 7-12): $10
Elder (ages 65+): $10
Children ages 6 and under: Free
DANCE GROUPS
SHI’s Board of Trustees named Dakhká Khwáan Dancers (People of the Inland) as the lead dance group for Celebration 2024. Dakhká Khwáan Dancers (pictured above), a Tlingit group based in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada, will lead all dancers for the first time since the group initially performed at Celebration in 2008. The honor is given to one dance group every two years. The lead dance group is responsible for leading the Grand Entrance and Grand Exit songs, during which every participating dance group dances across the stage to mark the beginning and end of Celebration. That requires the lead group to drum and sing for up to three hours straight during both processions.
SHI is accepting applications for dance groups that wish to perform at Celebration 2024.
COMPETITIONS & SHOWS
Saturday, June 1
Ticket pre-sale begin, SHI Store
Wednesday, June 5
12 noon: Centennial Hall Opens for Ticket Sales
3:30 pm: Juried Art Show Award Ceremony, WSB Clan House
5 pm: Grand Entrance, Centennial Hall
Thursday, June 6
10 am: Native Artist Market Opens, SHI Arts Campus
11 am: Dancing Begins, Centennial Hall & Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall
12–1 pm: Cultural Orientation & Chilkat Blanket Viewing, WSB Clan House
4-5 pm: Toddler Regalia Review, Centennial Hall
5-6 pm: Storytelling, WSB Clan House
5-7:30 pm: Tlingit Macbeth Film
Friday, June 7
10 am: Native Artist Market Opens, SHI Arts Campus
10 am: Dancing Begins, Centennial Hall & Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall
12-1 pm: Storytelling
12:15-1 pm: Food Contest
4-5 pm: Native Fashion Show, Centennial Hall (Sponsored by Goldbelt Inc)
5-6 pm: Storytelling, WSB Clan House
6-7 pm: Juried Film Festival, Goldtown Theater
Saturday, June 8
9 am: Panoramic Photo, SHI Arts Campus
10 am: Native Artist Market Opens, SHI Arts Campus
10 am: Parade, beginning at Ferry Way
12 noon: Dancing Begins, Centennial Hall & Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall
5 pm: Grand Exit, Centennial Hall
SHI will sponsor a Toddler Regalia Review for children ages 2-4 years of age at the time of Celebration 2024, scheduled June 5-8. Check back soon for the application.
SHI is accepting applications for its Northwest Coast Juried Art Show and Competition, which is held during Celebration. The event is open to Alaska Native and Native American artists who practice Northwest Coast arts. Artists will compete in five divisions: Carving and sculpture; two-dimensional and relief carving; sewing; weaving and endangered art, which includes spruce-root weaving and horn spoon carving. Artists who win best of category will compete for best of division, and the division winners will compete for best of show. SHI also will award a best of formline prize among all pieces submitted.
SHI is accepting application for its Juried Youth Art Exhibit, which is held during Celebration. The event features work by middle school and high school students and monetary awards go to the winners’ sponsoring schools or organizations. The program is open to all youth in grades 6-12. Â
SHI is holding a contest to solicit a design for Celebration. SHI is seeking Northwest Coast art that depicts the theme: Together We Live in Balance, which incorporates two significant concepts. The winning artist will receive $1,000 and the design will appear on materials, including t-shirts and a program, associated with the event, which is one of the largest Native gatherings in the state, drawing thousands of people to Juneau every even year. SHI will also publish an article about the artist in the Celebration program. Note: SHI is requesting sketches of proposed Celebration art, as opposed to finished pieces. The process is similar to a request for proposals. The sketches must be clear enough that reviewers can understand and interpret the concept.
SHI will hold food contests for best seaweed, seal oil, and dry fish during Celebration 2024. Prizes: First place: $1,000; Second place: $500; Third place: $250.  Check back soon for the application.
SHI for the first time will sponsor a Juried Film Festival in an effort to support Indigenous storytelling through digital media. Entries must be 5-10 minutes in length and created within the past 2 years. The films may cover any topic and can be live action, stop motion or animated. The event is open to Sealaska shareholders and their descendants and Alaska Natives and Native Americans who are members of an Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act corporation or Indian tribe. Selected films will be shown at Gold Town Theatre in Juneau during Celebration 2024, scheduled June 5-8.
SHI is accepting applications for its Native Artist Market, which is held during Celebration. The event is open to Sealaska shareholders and their descendants and Alaska Natives and Native Americans who are members of an Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act corporation or Indian tribe.Â
SHI will hold a storytelling event to share Raven stories, histories of Raven crests and creation stories. The Storytelling Event is open to Sealaska Shareholders and Shareholder Descendants. SHI will contact those who submitted applications once dates and times of the event are finalized. The event is limited to the first 25 applicants.Â
OTHER INFO
Once again, Alaska Airlines is graciously offering a 10% discount on airfare to Celebration!
Meeting Fare Code: ECMK356
Departure City(s): Any Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air US or Canadian city
Meeting City: Juneau, Alaska
Not Included: Prudhoe Bay, Alaska; Hawaii, Mexico or Central America
Beginning Travel Date: June 1, 2024
Last Travel Date: June 12, 2024
​Meeting Fare Rules:
- Your group is entitled to a 10% discount off Alaska Airlines published fares (except companion and other promotional fares).
- You may book and ticket on the blackout dates but no discount will apply.
- Any change or cancellation after ticketing is subject to a service charge. All fare rules and additional blackout dates of the fare apply.
- All tickets must be issued online or by the Alaska Airlines Group desk.
- A $15.00 service fee will apply to any tickets issued by the
- Group Desk.
Meeting Fare Codes may not be posted on websites.
We rely on volunteers to make Celebration happen. We need about 200 volunteers to donate a minimum of four hours in exchange for a free, one-day pass and a free t-shirt.Â
All persons wishing to volunteer need to register ahead of the event.Â
We want to see you preparing for Celebration—whether rehearsing, sewing regalia, fundraising or anything else related to the event! Send photos to shinews@sealaska.com to be included in our biennial #RoadToCelebration social media campaign!Â
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