For 25 years, the Alaska Native Heritage Center at the Northeast anchorage has been a resource for visitors to learn more Past, present and future of indigenous peoples.
Marking this milestone and reflecting the state’s emphasis on cultural tourism, completing the first phase of a $25 million capital improvement plan last summer.
The warm and enthusiastic 20,000-square-foot facility designed to fit the forest landscape creates new ways to make Alaska’s native culture more accessible.
“We really want to focus on the details and enhance our community of Alaskan Native artists,” the center’s CEO Emily Edenshaw told Alaska Public Media at the unveiling. “I just love the result, it’s So beautiful.”
Totem poles are found throughout the Alaska Local Heritage Center. Image source: Paul Szydelko
Throughout the vast state, there are 229 federally recognized tribes, depicted in a colorful map behind the stage of the gathering venue. What is suspended from the ceiling is the re-creation of canoes and kayaking, a reminder of the deep marine traditions of the Alaskan natives and provides tools for transport, trade and self-sufficiency hunting.
A stage hosts storytelling, songs, dances and games. A remarkable game often presented by local youth is the change of high kicks, where participants try to hang balls or other objects at various heights and land on the same foot.
The remodeled identity gallery explains the differences between the five regional groups. New exhibits in the renovated cultural hall have information about the repatriation of Dena’ina people and ancestral objects. In the groundbreaking research led by the Heritage Center, education performed brilliantly to study the painful and tragic forced delivery of Alaska Native children to boarding schools.
Edenshaw said in the fall at the Alaska Tourism Association conference that cultural tourism is “the sleeping giant of Alaska.” “Tourists want a real experience.”
Exhibitions of high kicks and other sports were held at the Alaska Local Heritage Center. Image source: courtesy of the Alaska Local Heritage Center
New in the Heritage Center
The facility is around a lake named after Paul Tiulana, grew up on King Island, offering his family through hunting and gatherings and in the Second World Lost a leg in the battle. Tiulana died in 1994 and taught Alaska local stories, dance, carving and skin boat architecture for two generations, instilling a vision of the traditional center.
The half-mile cycling trail can be self-guided or guided, which includes cabin-style Athabaska ritual houses, rebuilt country attractions, boats and grey whale exhibitions, totem pole carvings and other information about Alaska’s local lifestyle, Survival techniques and continuous life traditions.
Aesthetic improvements to the cultural hall, gathering places, archives area and hall last year, including new flooring, paint and signage. Among the numerous works of art are lamps that seal skin, sealed intestines, fish skin, abalone and mother of pearls; the carpet shows the design of Chief Dean’s necklace; illustrations; and photo murals. Custom benches represent each major cultural area.
The next phase of the project will renovate the multimedia theater to blend passive experiences, predictive art and interactive virtual reality experiences. Later stages require a traditional healing garden, an outdoor contemplation and etiquette space with cultural monuments – as well as community building and the development of self-sufficient kitchens.
this Alaska Local Heritage Center Anchorage city centre is a 10-minute drive away. Admission is a recommended donation of $10, and $30 visit from May 11 to mid-September, from 9 a.m. Monday to 5 p.m. to Friday (and weekends after May 11) . The city center places have free round-trip shuttles. Guests should be allowed about three hours to absorb everything the center has to offer.
Anchorage’s trolley tour recently launched the Winter City Tour, a 3.5-hour, 10-stop experience that includes visits to Point Woronzof and seafood processors, offering samples of fresh salmon. Image source: courtesy of Anchorage trolley tour/Leslie Carter
The choice of cultural exploration
There are many other places in Anchorage where visitors can explore the state’s culture, powerful wildlife and magnificent landscape.
- this Anchorage Museum Downtown has permanent installations such as “Living Our Culture, Sharing Our Legacy: The First People in Alaska,” an interactive gallery with over 600 Smithsonians selected and explained by Alaska natives Items. The “Northern Art” exhibition displays sculptures, videos, photography and paintings.
- Anchorage trolley tour Recently launched the Winter City Tour, a passionate 3.5-hour experience with 10 stops. The tour includes 25-foot snow sculptures, a pilot’s coffee in the flight service in Rust, views from Point Woronzof and views of the Ulu Knife Factory and a seafood processor with fresh salmon samples.
- this Alaska Railroad New excursions for Aurora winter train passengers include day trips to Arctic busescamp and activities such as dogs, snowmobile and reindeer. Add-ons include Matanuska Glacier Winter Tour and Southbound Arctic Circle Aurora Fly/Driver Adventure, the car flies from Fairbanks to Coldfoot, scenic drive along the Dalton Highway and from Fairbank The scenery on the Alaska Railroad from S to Anchorage.
- this Alaska Wildlife Conservation Centerabout an hour north of Anchorage, just opened Mattson Marine Education CenterThis is a classroom-style facility on the chef’s entrance where visitors can watch endangered beluga whales during tide times, especially when chasing salmon in spring and fall.
