Winnie Johansen Opens Greenhouse
CIRI descendent Winnie Johansen opened a 4,000-foot hydroponic greenhouse named Arctic Eden north of Kenai with her CIRI special distribution. Her dearly departed parents - father and CIRI shareholder Tony Johansen and mother (Fritzi) Frieda Johansen - were avid gardeners and fed people in downtown Kenai with the vegetables they grew. Her mother's love of gardening rubbed off on Winnie. With the distribution, she decided to invest in herself and opened the greenhouse, which has been doing very well. Winnie grows fruits and vegetables and lets customers pick from the greenhouse fresh off the vine. She also sells her produce at local farmer's markets.

Jessica Garner Graduates from High School CIRI descendent Jessica Dawn Gar-ner graduated in May from Dar-danelle High School in Dar-danelle, Ark. She received many honors and graduated in the top 10 percent of her class. She plans to attend Arkansas Tech University in the fall, where she will study to become a Spanish teacher. Jessica is the daughter of CIRI shareholder Donna Garner and husband John David Garner, and granddaughter of CIRI shareholder George Pederson.

Jessica Garner

Baby Jean with her mother, Nicole Lee-Lopez Smeaton (l) and great grandmother Agnes Harrop (c)

Baby Jean Lee-Geraldine Krause was born Feb. 24, 2002, at 11:02 p.m. at Alaska Regional Hospital in Anchorage, Alaska. She was exactly 5 pounds and was 18 1/2 inches long. Jean is the daughter of Travis Krause and CIRI descendent Nicole Lee-Lopez Smeaton, both of Dillingham, and is the fifth generation living female on her mother's side. She is also welcomed by great, great grandmother Agnes Ida Harrop of Anchorage; great grandmother and shareholder Betty Marie Lopez of Dillingham and grandmother and CIRIshareholder Karen Lee Lopez-Johnson of Dillingham. She is also welcomed by CIRI shareholder and great grandfather Mickey Lopez, Jr.; CIRI shareholder aunts Betty Brookshire, Rita Kostenborder, Michelle Abrams, Tracy Gregory, Geraldine Cross; and CIRI shareholder uncle Mickey Lopez III.

CIRI shareholder Rebecca Lyon was chosen by the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian Native Arts Program for a three-week Research Fellowship beginning this August. "I want other Alaska Natives to learn about art opportunities to strengthen Alaska Natives' impact on the community by creating a positive Alaska Native image in the public eye through art," said Lyon. "Opportunities such as this elevate art to more than craft. Today, many artists create for the tourist trade; creating art for the sake of meeting a segment's demand and not as an expression of culture. Art is the way we record our history; today's history isn't being recorded properly because it is meeting market demand."

"Touching Copper Woman" by Rebecca Lyon

The Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian Native Arts Program offers Native American professional and working artists opportunities to enhance their artistic growth and career development through two different fellowship programs, the Native Arts Research Fellowship and the Artist in Residence Fellowship. The research fellowship provides an opportunity for professionals and/or working artists to be exposed to various museums, to explore networking opportunities, and to meet with other Native artists. Finally, the Research Fellowship is designed to initiate and support Native artists in conducting community-based projects, enhancing artistic growth, and strengthening career development.

During the Research Fellowship, participants will explore the collections of the NMAI along with other museums and institutions such as the American Museum of Natural History and The Brooklyn Museum of Art in New York City; National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C.; and the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology, Philadelphia.

Artists develop a community project to benefit their respective communities upon completion of the program such as a workshop, lecture, demonstration, or other means of sharing experiences and knowledge gained from the fellowship. Lyon plans to study Alutiiq and Athabascan art from pre-contact and beyond and will present her findings at the Alaska Native Heritage Center this fall.

Other Alaska Native artists awarded fellowships in the past are St. Lawrence Island Yupik artist Susie Silook, Haida basket weaver Lisa Telford and Haida textile weaver Evelyn Vanderhoop. Visit NMAI's Conexus web site at http://www.conexus.si.edu/ for more info-rmation about the program.

Thelma and Bennie Smith

CIRI shareholder Thelma Woodall married Bennie Smith on May 3, 2002, in Anchor-age. Thelma is the daughter of CIRI shareholder Fannie Woodall, who witnessed the wedding with Ricardo Davis. Crystal Detroy and Rebecca Paulsenwere attended the wedding. Thelma and Bennie Smith reside in Belleville, Ill., and they thank Jesus for their blessed marriage.

Baby Jonathan Jonathan William Wystrach was born on Feb. 5, 2002, at Prov-idence Hospital in Anchorage. He weighed 5 pounds 8 ounces, and was 19 1/2 inches long. He is the first born of proud parents CIRI descendent Angie Constantine and Dewayne Wystrach. Jonathan is the first grandson of CIRI shareholders Raymond and Charlene Constantine of Anchorage; and great grandson of CIRI shareholders Fedora Constantine of Tyonek, Betty Russell of Anchorage, and the late Jefferson Trenton of Tyonek.

Baby Jonathan

Jordon held by his mother Caroline Wild

Jordon Turns One Jordon Lee Wilde-Stephan celebrated his first birthday on April 27, 2002. He was born in Anchor-age at the Alaska Native Medical Center and was 6 pounds, 11 oz. and 19 inches long at birth. He is the son of CIRI descendants Caroline Wilde and Guy Stephan. Jordan is the first grandchild of CIRI shareholders Anna and Lee Stephan, and CIRI shareholder Eleanor Wilde and Robert Wilde, all of whom live in Eklutna, Alaska.

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