Heritage

Project: "The Storyteller" Arts and Culture Initiative: Production and Initial Outreach Grantee: Koahnic Broadcast CorporationStory by John Sallee (TCF Recipient) The Storyteller is a 15-episode audio series produced by Koahnic Broadcast Corporation. The project aimed to revitalize old folktales and stories from Alaska Native people. As the lead producer, it was my job to bring these old stories back to the ears and eyes of the new generation in a modern and fresh way. The concept behind the series relies on the character, the Storyteller, who serves as the host of the series. Not only does the Storyteller hold a collection of stories from Alaska’s original peoples, but they serve as the interface of the series. The website, nativestoryteller.org, will serve as the base for all media involved with the project. This multimedia project includes shadow animation, a podcast, and an interactive website. This project has been the biggest learning experience of my life, educationally and professionally. Working with a graphic designer, shadow animator, website designer and Alaska Native artists simultaneously has been a great learning experience. Not only did this project involve production work, but it involved behind the scenes work such as creative direction, marketing, contract writing and corporate outreach. Listening and editing these stories has been a joy, as not only have I rediscovered these folktales but it even gives me a sense of pride in my culture. While this series was mainly to be audio, I believe these folktales needed to align with modern technology by providing various visual mediums. Production Art by Steven Hammack Premier animated story by Patricia Wade, “An Athabascan Story of Denali”

KNBA’s Coverage of Alaska Federation of Natives Convention 2019 The CIRI Foundation made a Heritage Project grant of $20,000 to Koahnic Broadcast Corporation to support KNBA’s annual broadcast coverage of the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) Convention October 17-19, 2019.KBC 2019 AFN Convention coverage included:Gavel-to-Gavel coverage of the Convention from the Carlson Center in Fairbanks from October 17-19, 2019.A one-hour daily interview program, “Alaska’s Native Voice” focusing on a relevant issue.A daily five-minute AFN Convention news recap.Stories from the Convention were filed for KNBA and National Native News.Stories from the First Alaskans Institute Elders and Youth Conference were filed for the statewide broadcasts and National Native News.      #gallery-1 { margin: auto; } #gallery-1 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-1 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-1 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */ The broadcasts were aired on KNBA-FM, streamed online, and made available to stations across the state via Koahnic’s Native radio distribution service, Native Voice One (NV1).  Our 2019 gavel-to-gavel broadcasts were carried in whole or in part by 18 Alaskan stations and 48 repeaters and translators, from Utqiaġvik to Yakutat. In addition, we increased the reach of our AFN coverage with feature stories on the AFN Convention and the Elders and Youth Conference that were broadcast nationwide on National Native News both during and after the Convention. Koahnic also provided a “Young Media Makers” session at the annual First Alaskans Institute Elders & Youth Conference, October 14-17, 2019 at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks. Youth participants produced two short radio features that were broadcast on all stations that carried our gavel-to-gavel broadcasts, including KNBA. The features focused on the theme of the conference, “Qaneryararput Yugtun Riniqerput/Qaneryararput Cugtun Kayuqerput,” or “Language is Our Super Power.” The 2019 AFN Convention was held at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks. AFN’s chosen theme for this year’s Convention was “Good Government, Alaska Driven,” and top leaders addressed the delegation. Speakers and panelists included: keynote speaker Pete Kaiser, Musher, 2019 Iditarod Champion; Kevin Allis, CEO, National Congress of American Indians; U.S. Attorney General William Barr (via live video link); U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski; U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan; U.S. Congressman Don Young (via live video link); Tara Sweeney, Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior; Katherine Gottlieb, President and CEO, Southcentral Foundation; Melanie Bahnke, President and CEO, Kawerak, Inc.; Gloria O’Neill, President and CEO, Cook Inlet Tribal Council; and Sophie Minich, President & CEO, CIRI. The gavel-to-gavel broadcasts were hosted by NV1 Network Manager Bob Peterson (Yup’ik). Peterson provided a description and analysis of the Convention’s proceedings while identifying and reporting on trends and themes of the Convention. During breaks in the proceedings, Peterson interviewed a variety of guests, and other team members contributed informed commentary during the broadcast. KNBA’s AFN production team included; Program Director Loren Dixon; News and Public Affairs Producer Tripp Crouse (Ojibwe); producer Emily Schwing; National Native News Anchor/Producer Antonia Gonzales (Navajo); and NV1 Station Relations Rep. Nola Daves Moses.  Kristi Shallenberger, from KYUK in Bethel, joined us as a second producer through a competitive application process that supports collaboration between KNBA and rural stations. KNBA also produced a 1-hour pre-produced show broadcast at 8:00 AM and Noon each day, “Alaska’s Native Voice.”  Hosted by National Native News Anchor/Producer Antonia Gonzales, and produced by Gonzales and Schwing, the program featured interviews that delved deeper into topics and issues raised during the convention proceedings. The “Alaska’s Native Voice” programs also included the five-minute AFN daily news segment. The three archived programs of “Alaska’s Native Voice,” and the entire broadcast, are available on-demand at the KNBA website at knba.org and the NV1 website at nv1.org. The convention’s focus was of immediate interest to all Alaska Natives and to non-Natives as well.  The coverage allowed KNBA to make information available to Alaskans throughout the state. For those who could not travel or leave work to attend the proceedings, this was information that they might not otherwise have had access to. We promoted an online listener survey to gather audience feedback, with results indicating that respondents felt that the broadcast coverage had increased their understanding of the issues raised during the convention. First Alaskans Institute Elders & Youth Conference 2019 Preceding the AFN Convention, Koahnic and Alaska Teen Media Institute (ATMI) worked with Elders & Youth Conference attendees for 2019 “Young Media Makers” training and production sessions. More than 60 participants took part in an interactive 90-minute training session on the first day of the conference, and students produced two short radio features for broadcast.Koahnic staff providing the training included Jaclyn Sallee (Iñupiaq/CIRI Shareholder), KBC President and CEO; Antonia Gonzales (Navajo), the Anchor/Producer of National Native News; Angela Jenkins (Yup’ik), Resource Development Specialist for The RIVR; and NV1 Network Manager Bob Peterson (Yup’ik). Indigefi Host/Producer Alexis Sallee (Iñupiaq/CIRI descendant) and producer Tomás Karmelo Amaya (Yaqui/Zuni/Tarahumara) also provided audio and video training for the session. In addition, Alexis and Tomás debuted a new video production of Indigefi, “Who We Are,” to a full audience at the main stage of the Carlson Center on October 15. Presenting with them was Iñupiaq artist Tristan Morgan, who is featured in the video, which was shot in Nome and Shishmaref, and features an Alaska Native artist (Morgan) responding to the changing climate in her traditional homeland.The two “Young Media Makers” features produced by the participants were broadcast as part of our gavel-to-gavel coverage of the AFN Convention. Fifteen participants completed a participant survey following the sessions, with responses indicating that the training had resulted in an increase in media skills.

Cook Inlet Housing Authority's Honoring Place​ By Sezy Gerow-Hanson Artist Danielle Larsen is a contemporary illustrator and painter with Unangan Aleut, Koyukaon Athabascan, Inupiaq, and European ancestry. She is a recipient of TCF’s scholarships and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting and Alaska Native Art from the University of Alaska, Anchorage. Cook Inlet Housing Authority (CIHA) partnered with The CIRI Foundation (TCF) for a Heritage Project titled “Honoring Place”. As Cook Inlet Housing was preparing to build its first affordable housing development in downtown Anchorage, we began talking with TCF about a unique opportunity to acknowledge and uplift Dena’ina land and culture at the development site. This idea became “Honoring Place” and involved finding a partner artist to create unique art for each floor of the building that could help tell the story of Dena’ina land and people for the residents, visitors and community partners. Fine artist and CIRI descendant Danielle Larsen was selected for the project and began her almost yearlong work creating these artworks that depict Dena’ina flora. Once installed each piece of artwork has an accompanying placard that has the Dena’ina plant name and how Dena’ina used each of the plants. It’s a cultural lesson presented in a beautiful piece of art. In addition to the flora, Danielle also created a portrait of Elizabeth Peratrovich for the lobby of the building, which is named Elizabeth Place in honor of the Alaska Native civil rights leader. This artwork also includes an educational placard describing Elizabeth’s role in the passage of the 1945 Anti-Discrimination Act in Alaska, which made it illegal to discriminate in public accommodations and facilities based on race. The inclusion of these specific Dena’ina plants depicted in the art also provides a sense of welcome and familiarity to our residents. For our CIRI shareholders and descendants it is an acknowledgement of their ancestry and denotes a place of belonging and well being specifically for them. To celebrate the completion of the project, a Grand Opening and First Friday event was held in December. Event participants included new residents at the building, community partners and funders, as well the community at large. Guests were encourage to explore and learn by visiting each of the artworks and some of the open apartments. At the conclusion guests were asked to participate in a questionnaire so that we could find out if the learned anything new about Elizabeth Peratrovich or Dena’ina land and culture. Survey results showed that they learned many things about Dena’ina land, plants and their uses, as well as just a general acknowledgement that we are living, working and playing on Dena’ina land. CIHA would like to thank The CIRI Foundation and Danielle Larsen for partnering with us on “Honoring Place”. We are honored to host these works of art within Elizabeth Place and pleased to help acknowledge, preserve and promote Dena’ina land and culture for generations to come. Guests chat with artist, Danielle Larsen. Guests read placard about Alaskan cranberries.

Connecting The RIVR (Rising Indigenous Voices Radio) with Alaska Native Youth By Angela Jenkins It is so important we keep doing what we are doing, producing The RIVR (Rising Indigenous Voices Radio) at therivr.net for the next generation. A capacity-building and audience development grant from The CIRI Foundation supported our work to get the stream and its outreach on a stronger footing. Our stream has come along in a time where this generation of artists are really expressing themselves and talking about their roots, trauma, culture, reviving old songs and making them modern. Our listeners hear that and they can relate. Growing up I know I did not have a media source that felt like it spoke directly to me. Working with Alaska Native Native youth is rewarding to me and participating at events like the CIRI C3 camp is particularly inspiring. It gives The RIVR one-on-one time to really reach the youth involved and talk about culture and expression. We always play a game that incorporates The RIVR streaming app like musical chairs, hot potato, and an exercise where the youth participants pick a traditional value out of a hat and have to rap, sing or write a poem about that value. Stream online at therivr.net Download The RIVR App

2019 Native Youth Olympic Games Grantee: Cook Inlet Tribal CouncilStory 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 good grades, and participate in a healthy lifestyle. Thank you for your continued partnership and support of Alaska’s youth! Alumni ・ Recipient ・ Participant Do you have a story to share? We love hearing from you!Sharing stories is an important part of Alaska Native culture and we are excited to hear about your experiences. Click here to share your story!

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 […]

Project: WE UP: Indigenous Hip-Hop of the Circumpolar North Grantee: Anchorage Museum Association Story by: Jamie Newsom Eaton WE UP: Indigenous Hip-Hop of the Circumpolar North is a feature-length documentary film produced by the Anchorage Museum. It profiles the rising stars of Northern Indigenous hip-hop […]

Project: Coloring Alutiiq Grantee: Alutiiq Museum & Archaeological Repository Story by: Amy Steffian On a rainy, windy day in September, the children at Ouzinkie School had some special visitors. Alutiiq artist Hanna Sholl and three members of the Alutiiq Museum’s staff flew to the rural community […]

Project: Culture and Youth Engagement Project Grantee: Covenant House Alaska Story by: Jason Searle Covenant House Alaska (CHA) operates numerous programs for youth experiencing homelessness between the ages of 13-24 located in Anchorage, Alaska. Although CHA’s facilities exist in the state’s most populated municipality, youth […]