Fur pelts are soaked, stretched and pieced together. Hides are scraped, smoked, cut and beaded. Sinew is separated and then braided into a fine, sturdy thread. These are just some of the activities that could be found at the Alaska Native Heritage Center. Master artists worked daily through the summer to create traditional garments and accessories as part of the center's 2001 program theme - Furs, Feathers and Fiber: Covering Native Alaska. "Alaska Native clothing tells a story. It reminds us of who we are and provides a connection to our ancestors," stated Cindy Pennington, Alaska Native Heritage Center program manager. "Many of the articles made for Furs, Feathers and Fiber have not been made for many years. It's exciting to see this work being done and to see the skill of our master artists."

Master artist Candyce Childers from Holy Cross, Alaska displays her spiral headdress.

The program explored the function, beauty and ingenuity of culturally specific clothing. The completed garments are on display in the gathering place at the Alaska Native Heritage Center.

  Doug Inga finished making an Alutiiq man's battle armor vest. Created by lashing together rows of wooden slats with synthetic sinew, the tightly fitted garment provided protection. Originally from Old Harbor, Doug's wife Viola Inga says the armor reminds her of her ancestors' struggle to maintain control of the Kodiak Archipelago, particularly the storied battle at Refuge Rock where Gregorii Shelikof's soldiers ambushed several thousand Alutiiq.

Joanne Graham finished a Tsimshian dance vest with a killer whale clan motif. She also worked on additional dance regalia, including a button blanket and a headpiece. Tsimshian tradition calls for new dance regalia to be presented to the owner who must then "dance" the garment to consecrate it for ceremonial purposes.

Maggie Irrigoo's St. Lawrence Island-style woman's snowsuit garnered much attention as it was created earlier in the summer. It is crafted from spotted seal fur with a stylish collar made of sea otter and wolf fur. Irrigoo also added a decorative trim made of de-haired sealskin dyed with willow bark. Irrigoo's use of traditional braided sinew drew attention from visitors as well as from her fellow artists - all fascinated by and appreciative of the process.

Alaska Native women have always expressed their feelings through the garments that they create for themselves and their family. In Athabascan society, as in other Alaska Native cultures, women could show off their skills with the needle by adorning their children and especially their husbands with fancy clothing.

Master artist Candyce Childers created a spiral headdress using smoked moose skin and glass beads from a pattern handed down from her grandmother Frances Demientieff.

According to Childers, women and girls wore headdresses during the summer months to keep mosquitoes off their heads.

Top row (left to right) Will Knox, betsy Peratrovich, Debbie Williams, Susan Moyer. Bottom: Lisa Holman, Sheila Hague. Not pictured: Jennifer Coughlin, Ann Gibbs.

The CIRI Shareholder Relations department will be moved to the fourth floor of the CIRI building by the end of October. The expanded Shareholder Relations department will be located to the right of the new fourth floor reception desk, while CIRI Alaska Tourism will remain in its current location on the fourth floor left of the elevators. "Relocation of the Shareholder Relations department is designed to allow us to better serve CIRI shareholders on a daily basis," said betsy Peratrovich, manager of shareholder relations. The CIRI main reception desk, currently located on the fifth floor, will also be moved to the fourth floor, where all visitors will be directed.

"The majority of CIRI visitors are for Shareholder Relations and CIRI Alaska Tourism. It makes the most sense to move the main CIRI reception area to the fourth floor where these departments are located. It will also benefit our visiting artists who display their arts and crafts on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.," said Sophie Minich, CIRI vice president of administration.

During and after the move, business will continue with minimal disruption and the Shareholder Relations phone and fax numbers will remain the same. The Shareholder Relations department may be contacted by phone at (907) 274-8638, toll-free at (800) 764-2474, via fax at (907) 263-5186, and online.

Alaska Native Education Summit 2001

Unlike other meetings in the past, this one will focus on Alaska Native issues and begin the process of finding Alaska Native solutions. The Education Summit is looking for new people at the table who will bring important Native perspectives and are willing to work hard to come up with fresh ideas that meet the needs of Native children. This summit will draw together Native communities to develop plans to fit various situations and draw on experience of what works and what does not. It will truly be a "grass roots" approach to providing quality education.

The summit is open to the public and people are encouraged to come and express their thoughts and perspectives. For more information contact The CIRI Foundation at (907) 263-5582, toll-free at (800) 764-3382, or by fax at (907) 263-5588. p align="center">

36th Annual AFN Convention Set for October

The Alaska Native Professional Association is once again hosting a career fair during the Elders & Youth Conference of the AFN Convention. The career fair will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 24, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Summit Hall on the lower level of the Egan Center. Participants will have an opportunity to meet with employers and attend workshops focusing on writing resumes, gaining interview skills, learning about the different pathways to higher education, and understanding personality type.

Quyana Alaska continues this year with various Alaska Native dance groups performing for two nights: Wednesday, Oct. 24 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Sullivan Arena and Thursday, Oct. 25 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Egan Center. Contact the Alaska Federation of Natives at (907) 274-3611 or online at www.nativefederation.orgfor additional information.

Indian Health Services Contact Information

To find the Indian Health Service facility closest to you, contact one of these area offices and visit them online at www.ihs.gov.

Anchorage, Alaska (907) 729-3686   Phoenix, Ariz. (602) 364-5039   Albuquerque, N.M. (505) 248-4102   Portland, Ore. (503) 326-4123   Bemidji, Minn. (218) 759-3412   Sacramento, Calif. (916) 930-3927

Billings, Mont. (406) 247-7101   Tucson, Ariz. (520) 295-2405   Nashville, Tenn. (615) 467-1500   Window Rock, Ariz. (520) 871-5811   Oklahoma City, Okla. (405) 951-3768   Aberdeen, S.D. (605) 226-7531

Only Time Knows for Oudean and Bandmates

 

Other bands who have won the same band contest are the Dixie Chicks and Nickel Creek. And according to Ginger Boatwright, a Grammy nominated and renowned bluegrass performer, "These young musicians play with more feeling and class than many seasoned professionals ... Their vocals are outstanding ...[They are] a group not to miss!" Oudean, who is of Inupiat, Dutch and English heritage, was born in Sacramento, Calif., and raised in Anchorage. A performer since age nine, she grew up in a musical family where both her parents played in a band. Her father Steve sang and played guitar while her mother Mary played both guitar and fiddle. Last spring Oudean graduated from Bartlett High School, where she was a concertmaster with the school orchestra.

Like Oudean, the other six members of Bearfoot Bluegrass also grew up in families that played music. Over the years, they kept running into each other at music festivals and one day decided to form a band. Oudean's favorite music genre to play with the band is bluegrass, although she also enjoys playing other genres such as "dawg" music, which are mainly songs written by David Grisman. The band also performs original songs that bandmate Annalisa Woodlee has written. As a result, their sound is a blend of musical genres such as blue grass and jazz.

Recently, Bearfoot Bluegrass released a CD called Only Time Knows. They spent most of the summer on the road playing at various music festivals across the United States. They also played at the Alaska State Fair and opened for Nickel Creek at the Alaska Center for Performing Arts in early September. The other five members of Bearfoot Bluegrass are Kate Hamre, Mike Mickelson, Jason Norris, Malani O'Toole and Annalisa Woodlee.

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