CIRI Employees Top Team in the Heart Walk
A team of CIRI employees gathered before starting the 5th Annual Harvey P. Sullivan Heart Walk in September. CIRI employees were the top fundraising team with more than $4,300 raised in pledges to support the mission of fighting heart disease and stroke. Congratulations to CIRI employees Miranda “Mandy” Fuller and Danielle Larsen who were the first and second top fundraisers for the state.

The CIRI team included (from left to right) Trina Landlord, Dawn Dinwoodie, Tiffany Tutiakoff, Victoria Larsen, Danielle Larsen, Miranda “Mandy” Fuller and Shampagne Magee.

Alaska Native Heritage Center Celebrates Shem Pete’s Alaska
The Alaska Native Heritage Center hosted a celebration commemorating the recent re-release of “Shem Pete’s Alaska: The Territory of the Upper Cook Inlet Dena’ina” in September. Book collaborators James Kari and James A. Fall were on hand to provide insight and reflections on the book.

“Shem Pete’s Alaska” by Kari and Fall was originally published in 1987. The second version published today brings a vast amount of cultural and geographical knowledge to the forefront. Shem Pete (1896 - 1989) of Susitna Station listed more than 700 Dena’ina or Ahtna place names in Alaska with a geography of the Cook Inlet region based on his travels and knowledge. Shem Pete’s lifetime travel map of is one of the largest ever documented in this degree of detail for a subsistence economy. Included in “Shem Pete’s Alaska” are stories and commentary by Pete and 33 other Dena’ina elders. Several of Shem Pete’s narratives are presented bilingually throughout the book.

Kari retired from the Alaska Native Language Center at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks (UAF) in 1997, but continues to work on several Alaska Native language projects. In the past 25 years, he has conducted extensive linguistic work in many Athabascan languages including Ahtna, Dena’ina, Koyukon, Deg Hit’an, Holichuk, Tanana, and Upper Tanana.

Fall is a cultural anthropologist at the Division of Subsistence for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. He is also the author of “The Upper Inlet Tanaina: Patterns of Leadership among an Alaskan Athabascan People.”

“Shem Pete’s Alaska” is now back in stock and available in the Alaska Native Heritage Center gift shop. Hours are Friday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and by appointment by calling (907) 330-8008. The hardcover version of the book retails for $65, and the softcover is $29.95. Anyone who becomes a member gets a 10 percent discount, and all Alaska Natives are encouraged to sign up for an Alaska Native membership.

CIRI Logo Merchandise on Sale
Most of CIRI’s logo merchandise is now on sale for 30 percent off the retail price. Sale merchandise includes blankets, luggage, shirts, sweatshirts, fleece coats, vests, jackets, and more! All items are subject to availability and sizes and colors are limited to stock on hand. For a complete list of item descriptions and photos visit the CIRI web site at www.ciri.com or call Mandy Fuller at (907) 263-5501.

Sample Items

CIRI Fleece Throw
Carson Binoculars
CIRI Baseball Hat
Black/Gray 3-in-1 jacket
Unisex Reversible Vest
Women’s V-Neck Shirt
Youth Polo Shirt

Regularly

$40
$66
$10
$118
$40
$24
$16

Now

$28
$46.20
$7
$82.60
$28
$16.80
$11.20