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Alaska Native Heritage Center
The Welcome House
The Crossroads is the starting point for exploring the “Welcome
House.” On the wall outside the Theater will be a display containing a
timeline. The timeline highlights important ‘firsts’ in Alaska Native
history— archaeological and legendary—up to the time of contact with
Europeans. There are also video monitors showing clips of contemporary
Alaska Native life.
Stories Given, Stories Shared”
This introductory film offers an opportunity to learn about the
many different cultures of Alaska Native people, its beautiful
landscape and climates present in each of the regions of the
state. The 18-minute film was produced by Blueberry Productions,
an Alaska Native company.
“Stories from our Land, Heart and Hands”
The Hall of Cultures features exhibits and live, demonstrating
Alaska Native artists. Each cultural group has its own gallery
where a story of its people is told. Visitors are invited to
discover more about each culture through exhibits opposite each
gallery.
The messages here reflect the vitality of Alaska Native traditions
that have been passed down from generation to generation. You will
leave with a strong sense of the continuing skills and traditions
of a resilient people whose home has been Alaska for thousands of
years.
In the Hall of Cultures
Athabascan - How the Athabascan People Use Moose
Yup’ik, Cup’ik - Dancing & Healing, Healing & Dancing
Inupiaq, St. Lawrence Island Yupik - Take the Best of Both
Worlds
Aleut, Alutiiq - Basketry Through Time
Eyak, Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian - Fishing How Families Work
Together to Provide Food and Income
The Gathering Place Performances
Dancers
The tradition of Alaska Native Dance is one of the most powerful
and moving practices of our people today. Songs were used for
ceremonies, courtship, greeting, memorializing family members,
telling stories and announcing war or peace. Songs and dances have
a life and movement of their own. Many culture groups consider
songs property to be kept or traded, shared and sometimes even
lost in war.
Storytelling
The tradition of storytelling is part of all Alaska Native
cultures. Stories have been used since ancient times to tell our
family histories and life lessons, describe role models, impart
mythology, and entertain. The stories of any people tell a great
deal about their culture.
“Stories from the Past”
The Village Tradition
Each of the five traditional sites presents one permanent exhibit
and two to three temporary exhibits. The permanent exhibit serves
as the gathering area where the village host gives an overview and
presents traditional objects used in everyday life since ancient
times. Here you can see, touch, hear, smell and feel the lifeways
of long ago.
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