My Journey to Becoming a Speech Pathologist Story and Photo from: Lauren Sanford My name is Lauren Sanford and I was born and raised in Washington State. My mom was born and raised in Fairbanks, and has taught me to love and appreciate my Alaska Native heritage through educating me about my great grandmother, a … Read more
“An Inuit in Arizona” Story and Photo from: Peter DuBois I am Yupik Inuit, and a CIRI descendant of James and Mabel Larsen, my grandparents, original CIRI shareholders and my mother, Katherine DuBois, also an original CIRI shareholder. I am a PhD candidate in American Indian Studies at the University of Arizona. I received my … Read more
“Iḷisimmaaġiksuaq” Story and Photo from: Ayyu Qassataq Through my work and studies, I aspire to embody one of our traditional Iñupiaq characteristics: Iḷisimmaaġiksuaq – one who seeks knowledge and wisdom to become an informed and active contributor to their community.I strongly believe that the gifts we were born with don’t belong to us – … Read more
2019 Native Youth Olympic Games Grantee: Cook Inlet Tribal Council Story by: Kelly Hurd CITC is deeply grateful for The CIRI Foundation’s continued support of the Native Youth Olympic Games. NYO is a celebration of traditional athletic games, culture and our state’s rich history. NYO builds tomorrow’s leaders–providing an incentive to stay in school, maintain … Read more
Project: Tanana Chief Conference Cultural Programs Grantee: Tanana Chief Conference Story and photos from: Cindy Schumaker Keeping Traditions Alive: Skin Tanning Workshop There was a time when families in Koyukuk made a living trapping, skinning and selling wolf, beaver, marten, and muskrat hides. According to tribal administrator Loretta Lolnitz, many youth today have never seen … Read more
Project: Youth, Elder, Active Hunter and Gatherer – Food Sovereignty and Self Governance Grantee: Inuit Circumpolar Council Story and photo from: Carolina Behe On February 25th and 26th, 2019, Inuit from across Alaska and the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR) came together in Bethel, Alaska to explore Inuit values surrounding our relationships to the environment and … Read more
Project: ARTShops 2018 Lake Iliamna Traditional Seal Parka Alaska State Council on the Arts Partnership Story by: Michelle Ravenmoon The ARTShops program is a collaboration between the Alaska State Council on the Arts, the Alaska Arts and Culture Foundation and The CIRI Foundation’s A Journey to What Matters: Increased Alaska Native Arts and Culture grant … Read more
Project: ARTShops 2018 Fish Wheel to Fish Skins Alaska State Council on the Arts Partnership Story by: Rochelle Adams The ARTShops program is a collaboration between the Alaska State Council on the Arts, the Alaska Arts and Culture Foundation and The CIRI Foundation’s A Journey to What Matters: Increased Alaska Native Arts and Culture grant … Read more
Project: ALAXSXA | ALASKA Grantee: Bunnell Street Arts Center Story and photographs provided by Asia Freeman Additional photographs from Candace Blas ALAXSXA | ALASKA (AA) wove puppetry, video installations, recorded interviews, and yuraq (Alaska Native Yup’ik drum and dance) in a collage of striking contemporary and historical encounters between indigenous Alaska Native communities and newcomers … Read more
Project: Alaska Native PLACE Sewing Workshops, Professional Development & Dialogue Grantee: Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center Story and photos by: Angela Demma Alaska Native PLACE, which stands for Providing Living Artists Creative Environments, holds a monthly gathering for Alaska Native artists (except during subsistence activities in the summer), in Anchorage and beyond on Facebook. The … Read more