KNBA 90.3 FM has teamed up with Surreal Studios and Nightworks to present Gathering, Native Alaskan Music and Words, a unique CD featuring Alaska Native artists and elders who have come together to share their many songs and stories of Alaska.

Gathering showcases Alaskan artists performing traditional to contemporary Alaska Native music as well as contemporary storytelling and narrative accounts from elders. Featured artists include Medicine Dream, the Miracle Drummers and Singers, Jack Dalton, and others.

The Gathering compilation will be available on CD or cassette in June wherever Alaskan music is sold. Proceeds from sales will benefit KNBA and the featured artists. For more information, visit www.nightworks.com or call Surreal Studios at (907) 562-3754.




 

The summer season has begun for the Alaska Native Heritage Center featuring "Qayaqs & Canoes ­ Paddling into the Millennium." The summer theme is made possible by a federal Save America's Treasures Award presented by First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton at the White House last May.

"We are honored to show our visitors how we traditionally designed and developed watercraft for our livelihood, and to be recognized by the First Lady and the White House as one of America's Treasures," said Margaret Nelson, president and CEO of the Center. "The Federal Save America's Treasures grant enables the Center to build boats and to pass on our knowledge, history and tradition to future Alaska Native generations and visitors. It also enables us to gather together to build on our rich cultural heritage, to celebrate who we are and to share in our celebration."

Save America's Treasures is designed to celebrate American creativity, innovation and discovery. This millennium program recognizes and supports projects that convey the nation's rich heritage to future generations of Americans. "Qayaqs & Canoes ­ Paddling into the Millennium" brings together master boat builders from various Alaska Native cultures to share their skills with apprentice builders. Master boat builders will provide hands-on training to teach construction of traditional Alaska Native boats as well as pass on the oral tradition surrounding this rare art form to the students. Boats constructed this summer will be placed at the traditional village sites.

Eight master boat builders will work throughout the summer at the Center from May to August. Each artist will spend a two- to four-week period working with apprentice builders. Boats to be built range from an Athabascan birch bark canoe, Yup'ik kayak, Siberian Yupik Angyapik covered with walrus hide, Alutiiq qayaq covered with seal skin from Prince William Sound, Aleut baidarkas covered with sea mammal skins, to a Tlingit red cedar canoe.

The Alaska Native Heritage Center has taken on the task of updating and reactivating the IANA (Institute of Alaska Native Arts) Artist Registry. This registry is a referral service for artists and organizations that work with artists, such as museums and cultural centers. Through this registry, Alaska Native artists will receive exposure and increase the market for their work.

The registry is currently being placed on an in-house web site at the Center. The Center will take requests from interested organizations seeking particular artists and cultures and then provide information on appropriate artists and contact information.

All practicing Alaska Native artists are asked to renew and update their registry forms with the Heritage Center. Artists are free to include as much or little personal information as they wish, and only the information approved by the artist will be released. For a registry form, contact the Center at 330-8000 in Anchorage, 1-800-315-6608 outside Anchorage, or by visiting www.alaskanative.net. You may also contact Jean Anderson at

(907) 330-8020 or by emailing janderson@alaskanative.net.