By CIRI descendant Sabrina Smith
In April, CIRI sponsored a writing seminar for middle and high school students who have read and are interested in Spokane/Coeur D'Alene Indian writer Sherman Alexie's stories, poems and films. He's written 14 books that are published in 18 different countries and has made several movies. The seminar was held at the Sheraton Anchorage Hotel.At the seminar, West High School language arts instructor Debie Bye talked about Alexie's writing and his film Smoke Signals, which is based on a short story he wrote called "This Is What It Means To Say Phoenix, Arizona."
After we watched Smoke Signals, we sat around in a circle and ate pizza with Sherman Alexie who talked with us about himself and his writing.
He said Smoke Signals was kind of about him and a friend of his. Like the film, when his friend's dad died, they both went to get his remains so they could bring him home and lay him to rest. It's what they call a road movie because they go on a journey so they can reach a goal. What is unique about his film is that it was written and directed by Indian people.
Sherman Alexie (second from left, front row) is pictured here with Anchorage students.
Sabrina Smith stands at far right.
My favorite scene from his movie is where the women ride around the reservation in a car that can only go backwards. He told us the car that drove backwards in the film belonged to him. Also on the last day of filming, his very first child was born.
He said when he was little he read everything he could. Back then, Alexie had a wish that he could be surrounded by thousands of kangaroos. Recently,when he went to Australia to make another movie, he told us his wish about the kangaroos came true.
Later on, he gave a craft talk at the Alaska Native Heritage Center and told a bunch of funny stories. I thought it was very good because he did it the way he thought a craft talk should be. From him, I learned you should write about how you feel and what is important to you. For me, the best writers are aware and are intelligent people, and I believe Sherman Alexie is both.
Passport in Time project includes Kenai Peninsula
The US Forest Service recently began a Kenai Peninsula project under a nation-wide program called Passport in Time. The project will be held in conjunction with the Kenaitze Indian Tribe's Susten Youth Camp, July 23 through Aug. 11, 2001.An archeological team, Kenaitze youth and elders will dig two prehistoric Dena'ina cache pits for microscopic mineral particles that form in plants called plant phytoliths. Soil samples and plants will be gathered and tested to find the particles to help archeologists understand prehistoric uses of resources.
The information collected from this project will help determine if the site is eligible to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The National Register of Historic Places is the nation's official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation and protection.
The Forest Service invites CIRI shareholders to participate in the project. Contact Linda Finn Yarborough, Forest Archeologist at 3301 C Street, Suite 300, Anchorage, AK 99503, call her at (907) 271-2511 or e-mail her at lyarborough@fs.fed.us for more information and to volunteer.
Sealaska Juried Art Show
Sealaska Heritage Foundation will host its first annual Sealaska Juried Art Show in Juneau, Alaska, beginning June 7, 2002, to July 7, 2002. The show will be held in conjunction with Celebration 2002. More than $10,000 will be awarded in prizes.The show was created to enhance and encourage the production of quality art by Southeast Alaska Natives and to help raise the standards of Native art in Southeast Alaska. Renowned Northwest Coast Native artist Robert Davidson will be the head juror for the first Sealaska Juried Art Show. Davidson is a master artist who works in gold, silver, wood, argillite and paper. He learned Native culture and history from his paternal grandmother Florence Davidson.
For more information, entry applications and rules, contact the Sealaska Heritage Foundation at (907) 463-4411 or visit their website at www.shfonline.org.
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