Project: Prince William Sound Spruce Root Revival Project Grantee: Native Village of Eyak Written by: Brooke Johnson We are from Cordova and belong to the Native Village of Eyak. Historically, we used to weave with spruce roots, but throughout the years, that skill has become lost in our area. Our project proposed to bring spruce … Read more
Project: Early Language & Literacy for Alaska Native Children in Anchorage Grantee: Best Beginnings Story by: Amie Collins Kindergarten readiness starts with reading. Research shows that children who have access to book and are read to from birth will have greater academic success. Best Beginnings is partnering with numerous organizations to improve the likelihood of … Read more
Project: Yakutat Tlingit Tribe House Front Project Grantee: Yakutat Tlingit Tribe Written by: Gloria Wolfe In 2017 the Yakutat Tlingit Tribe was awarded a Journey to What Matters grant to create a formline-style house front at the site of the tribe’s culture camp. Local artist, Loretta Nelson was the lead artist and instructor for the project. … Read more
Project: “Latseen” – Strength Grantee: Cook Inlet Native Head Start Story by: Ember Thomas The CIRI Foundation generously funded a project for Cook Inlet Native Head Start parents with the goal of better preparing our children for academic success through resiliency. Research has indicated that children who are immersed in education programs that integrate the children’s home … Read more
Project: Alaska Afterschool Conference 2017 Grantee: Alaska Children’s Trust Photos by: Alaska Afterschool Conference The Alaska Afterschool Conference is the largest gathering of out-of-school time professionals and volunteers in the state. This year’s conference engaged 195 individuals, including 52 participants from 7 communities served by The CIRI Foundation. Conference attendees were engaged in two days of hands-on, … Read more
“My Education Journey” Story and Photo by: Janelle Feller (2017) Hello, my name is Janelle Feller and I am an Athabascan Alaska Native, as well as a member of the Native Village of Ruby. I was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, and plan to stay here as I have always loved this state. During … Read more
Project: Elders and Youth: Sharing Our Past Grantee: Ninilchik Traditional Council Story by: Christina Pinnow The Ninilchik Village Tribe has actively been working on preserving our culture and traditions that seem to have been lost or forgotten along the way. Even though we are still in the beginning stages of such a vast project, our … Read more
Project: ARTShops 2017 Alumni Room Alaska State Council on the Arts Partnership Story by: Mary Goddard 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 program. Established in … Read more
Project: ArtShops 2017 Objects of Research Alaska State Council on the Arts Partnership Written by: Melissa Shaginoff, ArtShop Leader 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 2017 Grass Basket Class in Kokhanok Alaska State Council on the Arts Partnership Written by: Marlene Nielsen, 2017 ArtShop Leader 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 … Read more