Project Grant

A Journey To What Matters and ASCA Partnership- ArtShops 2016 Ancient Alutiiq Cell Phones

by
phone

Project: ArtShops 2016 Ancient Alutiiq Cell Phones Alaska State Council on the Arts Partnership Photos by: Anna Lisa Nelson 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 … Read more

Heritage Project Grant- 2017 NYO Games Alaska

by

Project: 2017 NYO Games Alaska
Grantee: Cook Inlet Tribal Council
Photos by: CITC

NYO Games celebrates the rich tradition of Alaska Native people, while providing a forum for our youth to achieve their personal best through healthy athletic competition. NYO Games are comprised of 10 Native games events that are based on skills and values needed to survive Alaska’s harsh environment.

NYO is a year-round program that instills important values including teamwork, leadership, and respect. A survey completed by more than 400 student athletes emphasized NYO’s important impact, with 77% responding that participation in NYO was a factor in staying in school and/or keeping their grades up, and nearly 66% indicating improved self-confidence. 88% participants responded that they saw themselves as a role-model to other youth through their participation in the Games, and many cited healthy behavioral modifications, including reduction of tobacco and alcohol use.

CITC is extremely proud to host NYO Games Alaska, working with communities throughout the state, and local and national partners, as we have done for 47 years. Hosting NYO Games Alaska itself is a team effort and we are grateful for The CIRI Foundation’s loyal commitment in supporting the NYO program.

Read more

A Journey To What Matters and Heritage Project Grant- Culture in the Classrooms

by

Project: Culture in the Classrooms
Grantee: Cook Inlet Native Head Start
Written by: Marilynn Woods, Cultural Coordinator

Dustin Newman & Tatiana Petticrew

We had Dustin Newman and Tatiana Petticrew share with our students the items that they made for our classrooms, Dustin made bentwood visors and Tatiana made Unangax regalia. The students were able to touch all the items and learned a little history about each. Dustin made the visors match each classroom animal and Tatiana made a girl and boy regalia item for each class.

 

Read more

A Journey To What Matters Project Grant- Twining Cedar

by

Project: Twining Cedar- Restoring the Art and Cultural Practice of Tsimshian Bark Basketry Grantee: Anchorage Museum Association in partnership with the Haayk Foundation Photos by: Wayde Carroll [one_half last=”no”] [/one_half][one_half last=”yes”] Written by: Kandi McGilton  The Haayk Foundation – a nonprofit organization located in Metlakatla, Alaska, whose primary goal is to save Sm’algyax, the endangered language of the … Read more

A Journey To What Matters Project Grant- Material Traditions: Cedar Residency

by

Project: Material Traditions: Gut, Ivory, and Cedar Grantee: Anchorage Museum Association Written by: Marian Kaminitz As a conservator from the National Museum of the American Indian – one of the loaning institutions to the Anchorage Museum’s Arctic Studies Center – I was invited to observe and participate in the Voices from Cedar residency with guest carvers John Hudson, … Read more

A Journey To What Matters Project Grant- Alaska Yuut Arts- Dolls Workshop

by

Project: Alaska Yuut Arts and Crafts E-Commerce Project
Grantee: Association of Village Council Presidents (ACVP)
Written by: Eva Malvich, Director/Curator Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center

For many generations, little Yup’ik girls were provided with ‘cloth’ dolls – entire families consisting of dad, mom, big brother, big sister and baby, a traditional teaching method targeted at young girls in order for the females to learn how to raise a family. Most recently, with the advent of western lifestyles and the cash economy, those same little girls grew up making bigger, more elaborate dolls to sell for cash.

When you think of it, Yup’ik dolls (and any home-made doll for that matter) are a great way to use up precious scraps of fur and cloth, hide and trim. Most often, the same doll maker, is also adept at making fur parkas, mukluks or qaspeks, and has a nice tidy supply of scraps at hand.

Read more

A Journey To What Matters Project Grant- Alaska Native Art Classes

by

Project: Alaska Native Art Classes Grantee: Qutekcak Native Tribe Written by: Mariah Johnson, Program Coordinator, Qutekcak Native Tribe The Qutekcak Native Tribe received funds from The CIRI Foundation through a “Journey To What Matters” project grant. The tribe used the funds to hold weekly traditional art classes attended by tribal and community members of all ages. … Read more

A Journey To What Matters Project Grant- Material Traditions: Ivory Residency

by

Project: Material Traditions: Gut, Ivory, and Cedar
Grantee: Anchorage Museum Association
Written by: Mary Johns and Jerome Saclamana

My name is Mary Johns, I am Ahtna, Athabascan and I am of the Water Clan. This residency brought new light to my understanding of Alaska Native art. I know a lot of my own peoples’ art and the process, however not much about ivory carving and the process behind it and the amount of thought and symbolism that goes into it. This definitely made me think about expanding my knowledge about Alaska Native art, so in other words, I thoroughly enjoyed this workshop and all that it had to offer.

Read more

A Journey To What Matters Project Grant- Wrangell’s Journey to Revive the Culture

by

Project: Wrangell’s Journey to Revive the Culture
Grantee: Alaska Native Sisterhood
Written by: Tis Peterman

ANSA was the recipient of A Journey to What Matters in 2015. Cultural classes were rarely held in Wrangell and the base of this grant was to provide more classes to our local people to increase their skill levels in skin sewing, beading, weaving and Tlingit form line drawing. ANSA partnered with Sealaska Corporation to hold a week long cedar basket weaving class. The local teacher Faye Kohrt and 18 students worked diligently to complete their projects. Thanks to this grant other classes were held as well. Gunal’cheesh!!!

Read more