Revitalizing Cottage Industry and Intergenerational Work in Rural Alaska to Strengthen Community, Self-Reliance, and the Northwest Coast Weaving TraditionsGrantee: Friends of the State Library, Archives and MuseumStory from Weavers of Chilkat and Ravenstail, Photos by Sydney Akagi PhotographySeasoned Weaver, Lily...

Thank you TCF! Story and Photo from: Jordan Finney Dear The CIRI Foundation,  I would like to express my gratitude to The CIRI Foundation scholarship program for your financial support between 2017-2021. Because of your generosity, I was able to focus on my education and...

A Journey To What Matters and ASCA Partnership ARTShops 2020 Bentwood Box Making Class Story by Robert Mills 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...

“Native Artist” Explores Identity and Lost History By Alexis Sallee, INDIGEFI Host and Producer I’m Alexis Sallee, host and producer of INDIGEFI, a weekly one-hour public radio show...

A Journey To What Matters and ASCA Partnership ARTShops 2020 Braiding Beach Grass Story by Apay'uq Moore 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...

 Culture Box: Art Kits for Youth A Journey to What Matters Grantee: Alaska Native Heritage Center In the midst of a world pandemic, the world we knew then came to a halt and the impact was devastating to the Alaska Native Heritage...

Artist in Residency at Anchorage Museum:  Sarah Ayaqi Whalen-Lunn A Journey to What Matters Grantee: Anchorage Museum, Story by Sarah Ayaqi Whalen-Lunn Block and test print of Release, my project for the residency. During my month in residency with the Anchorage Museum I...

Protection: Adaptation and Resistance Workshops in Customary Arts A Journey to What Matters Grantee: Bunnell Street Arts Center, Story by Asia Freeman Energized by movements for social justice, concerned about climate change impacts on cultural survival, and sobered by the ongoing pandemic,...

A Journey To What Matters: Prenatal Beaded Earring Workshop Grantee: Alaska Native Birthworkers Community, Story by Helena JacobsThe CIRI Foundation, through its A Journey to What Matters: Increased Alaska Native Art & Culture grant program, partnered with the Alaska Native Birthworkers...

A Journey To What Matters and ASCA Partnership ARTShops 2020 Traditional and Contemporary Skin Sewing with Marine Mammals Story by Raven Cunningham The ARTShops program is a collaboration between the Alaska State Council on the Arts, the Alaska Arts and Culture Foundation...

Color of Justice During a Pandemic Grantee: Alaska Native Justice Center, Story by Sara Martinchick, ANJC Office Manager The Alaska Native Justice Center (ANJC) hosted a two day...

Live Radio Amid the Pandemic Grantee: Koahnic Broadcast Corporation, Story by Antonia Gonzales, Host & Produce National Native News I’ve been traveling to Alaska for more than a...

2020 Elders & Youth: Living & Loving our Cultures WorkshopStory by: Helena JacobsMy mother, four of my children, and I were all blessed with the opportunity to participate in the first ever virtual FAI Elders & Youth Conference Living &...

A Journey to What Matters and ASCA Partnership- Graduate ARTShops 2020 Parka Ruff and Trim Class 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...

Project: "The Storyteller" Arts and Culture Initiative: Production and Initial Outreach Grantee: Koahnic Broadcast Corporation Story 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...

Sivuqaq Parka-Making WorkshopsGrantee: Bering Strait School District, Story by Brianna (Blatchford) WheelerBering Strait School District was able to partner with The CIRI Foundation last fall to provide materials and resources for Qaguus Kunuka to pass on traditional knowledge about parka-making for...

Early Language & Literacy for Alaska Native Children 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...

Anchorage Museum Virtual Artist ResidenciesStory by: Francesca Du Brock An example of the work by Robin Lovelace. Through the generous support of The CIRI Foundation, the Anchorage Museum was able to provide Virtual Artist Residencies to four Indigenous artists during the summer...

A Journey To What Matters and ASCA Partnership- ARTShops 2020 Tlingit Jewelry Making: Virtually 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...

Interviewing Indigenous Artists in Their Natural Element By Andi Murphy, Indigefi Podcast Producer I was one of the podcast producers for “Native Artist,” a project of Koahnic Broadcast...

Project: Weaving a Yup’ik IssranGrantee: Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center AlaskaStory by: Dawn Biddison Photo: Grace Anaver teaches Tenaya Bell how to twine the bottom of an issran (grass carrying-bag), checking their work against a photo on Tenaya’s cell phone of the...

Eight students, ranging in age from 16 to 74, made a traditional Sugpiaq-styled folding shield and war club throughout this two-week long class at the beginning of August. Project: Sugpiaq Shield & War Club ClassGrantee: Ilanka Cultural Center, Native Village of...

Project: Community Cultural Classes, Phase 2 Grantee: Alaska Arts Southeast Story and photos from: Mary Goddard Community Cultural Classes, Phase 2 was a successful program hosted by the Sitka Fine Arts Camp, and made possible through The CIRI Foundation. Our greatest success was...

Project: Hnaa tsesi Workshop and Gathering Project Grantee: Bunnell Street Arts Center Story and photos: Melissa ShaginoffThe Hnaa tsesi Workshop and Gathering brought 22 Elders and youth from the Ahtna villages of Gulkana, Tazlina and Copper Center together for storytelling, workshop, and...

Project: Alaska Native PLACE Kec’otl’ Workshop Grantee: Alaska Native Heritage Center Story by: Erin Gingrich Photos by: Carla Gingrich On November 23rd and 24th students and artists gathered to learn how to make Kec’otl’, a Dene Athabaskan work boot constructed out of smoked moose...

A Journey To What Matters and ASCA Partnership- ARTShops 2019 Kamipiaq Hard Bottom Crimping Class 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...

A Journey To What Matters and ASCA Partnership- ARTShops 2019 Unangan Fishskin Boot Workshop 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...

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...

Soapstone Carving Using Denaakk'e & Inupiaq Story by Dewey Hoffman My partner Marjorie Kunaq Tahbone and I cohosted a 90 minute workshop on carving soapstone with Elders and...

Sivuqam Kelugwi: A St. Lawrence Island Traditional Sewing Curriculum Project: St. Lawrence Traditional Sewing Grantee: Kawarek, Inc. Story by Danielle Slingsby Skills such as skin sewing were essential to the survival of our ancestors. In the past, these traditions were passed down from generation...

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...

A Journey To What Matters and ASCA Partnership- ARTShops 2019 Experimental Qaspeq Construction 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...

Project: ARTShops 2019 Iñupiaq Kammak Making Workshop Alaska State Council on the Arts Partnership Story by: Marjorie Kunaq Tahbone 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...

ARCTIC STUDIES CENTER ANCHORAGE MUSEUM FASHION SKETCHBOOK WORKSHOP Special project funded in part by A Journey to What Matters program.Dates: Anchorage 17th July- 18th July 2019During a two-day...

Project: Color of Justice 2019 Grantee: Alaska Native Justice Center Story by: Sara Martinchick, CIRI Descendant The Color of Justice program was a great opportunity to learn about the justice field. I got the opportunity to learn about laws and statutes in the...

Carving back time Project: Community Carving Program Grantee: Organized Village of Kasaan Story and photos from: Bethany Goodrich, Sustainable Southeast Partnership and Marina Anderson, Organized Village of Kasaan In the small village of Kasaan, Alaska is a carving shed nestled among trees and wildlife....

Project: Hoonah City Schools Dancing with our Ancestors Grantee: Hoonah City Schools Story and photos from: Heather Powell During the Dancing with our Ancestors project students were blessed with the opportunity to connect with their culture in ways that included several different art...

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...

Exploring Native Textile History From Steve Henrikson, Alaska State Musem Curator The Alaska State Museum is preparing a large exhibit exploring the history of textiles developed over the...

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...

“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...

“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...

2019 Native Youth Olympic Games Grantee: Cook Inlet Tribal CouncilStory by: Kelly HurdCITC 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...

Project: Tanana Chief Conference Cultural ProgramsGrantee: Tanana Chief ConferenceStory 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...

Project: Youth, Elder, Active Hunter and Gatherer – Food Sovereignty and Self GovernanceGrantee: Inuit Circumpolar CouncilStory and photo from: Carolina BeheOn February 25th and 26th, 2019, Inuit from across Alaska and the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR) came together in Bethel,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Project: ARTShops 2018 Utqiagvik Bleached Seal Skin Alaska State Council on the Arts Partnership Story by: Bobby Lynn Itta 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...

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...

Project: 35th Annual Elders & Youth Conference - Survival Kit Tool Making Grantee: First Alaskans Institute Story by: Denbigh Perry Volunteering for the 2018 Youth and Elders Conference in Anchorage, Alaska, which is hosted by the First Alaskans Institute; was a terrific opportunity....

“Rocketing Bearkat” Story and Photo from: Trey Oursler I was extremely lucky to be chosen as a recipient through The CIRI Foundation to pursue my college education at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. I studied Communications with a minor in...

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...

Project: Journey of Artistic Exploration Grantee: Bethel Council of the Arts Story by: Laura Ellsworth There were 14 students lined up and ready to go on the first day of the Nasqurrun (headdress) sewing class at the UAF Kuskokwim Campus in Bethel. The...

Project: 35th Annual Elders & Youth Conference Grantee: First Alaskans Institute Story by: Lena Jacobs Photos by: Sven Haakanson The First Alaskans Institute (FAI) hosted the 35th Annual Elders & Youth Conference in Anchorage October 14-17, 2018. One of the conference highlights every year includes...

Project: Cultural Traditions Workshops Grantee: Tanana Chiefs Conference Authored by: Cindy Schumaker Reclaiming cultural heritage is part of the solution to the ills adversely affecting the well being of Alaska Native people. By reconnecting with traditional values, preserving traditional ways of knowing, becoming...

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...

Project: Re-emerging Culture in Wrangell II Grantee: Alaska Native Sisterhood Story by: Tis Peterman ANSA co-sponsored a two-day paddle making class with the One Canoe Society and Sealaska Heritage Institute in Wrangell. The local school district provided their wood shop classroom as in-kind....

Project: Nutaqiq, a Circumpolar Art Show and Workshop Grantee: Inuit Circumpolar Council Alaska Authored by: Holly Mititquq Nordlum Photos by: Michael Conti Photography Inuit Circumpolar Council Alaska contracted me to organize and executed Nutaqtiq: A Circumpolar Inuit Art Show and Workshop during the ICC...

Project: Yup'ik Culture Fest Workshops 2018 Grantee: Quinhagak Heritage, Inc. Authored by: Carl Nicolai and Crystal Carter The Yup'ik Culture Fest Workshops in Quinhagak took place August 6-11, run by the Nunalleq Culture and Archaeology Center. For the past week, we have been...

Project: Radio Series "Definition of Resilience" from INDIGEFI Grantee: Koahnic Broadcast Corporation Story by: Alexis Sallee This last year, I was fortunate enough to work on a project that has given me the opportunity to continue to understand healing through music in Native...

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...

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....

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...

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...

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...

"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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Project: Radio Series on "Strength in Unity: Leadership – Partnership – Social Justice" at the 2017 AFN Convention Grantee: Koahnic Broadcast Corporation Story by: Bob Petersen Photos by: Koahnic Broadcast Corporation My name is Bob Petersen and I am the Network Manager for...

Project: Nudnelyahi Qudulyi Dena’ina Plants as Food and Medicine Conference Grantee: Kenaitze Indian Tribe Photos and Captions by: Deb Nyquist Story by: Denora Studnek It is hard to know where to start; the participation fee in this program was well worth every...

Project: A Journey To What Matters- Bringing Haida Canoes Back Grantee: Organized Village of Kasaan Story by: Stormy Hamar The Organized Village of Kasaan was able to complete a traditional 18-foot hand carved wooden dugout Haida canoe. In the process of...

Project: Culture and Youth Engagement Project Grantee: Covenant House Alaska Written by: Jason Searle Culture and Youth Engagement Project – A Partnership between the CIRI Foundation and Covenant House Alaska Covenant House Alaska (CHA) is a shelter for homeless and at-risk youth...

Project: ArtShops 2017 Alaska State Council on the Arts Partnership Written by: Lily Hope, ArtShops participant 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...

Project: Painting a Vision of Alaska's Youth Grantee: Covenant House Alaska Written by: Jason Searle Over the course of the last six months, youth of Covenant House Alaska were awarded the valuable opportunity to experience Alaska Native Culture and Art first-hand. In between rips...

Patricia Baldwin captured the moment her grandson, Marcus Nolan, received notification that he would have a scholarship from The CIRI Foundation to support his study of engineering. She says, "One very happy Grandson and very happy family. Thank you."

Project: Culture Week 2017 Grantee: Alaska Native Cultural Charter School Written by: ANCCS Photo by: ANCCS  The Alaska Native Cultural Charter School (ANCCS) would like to send a huge Quyana to TCF for their continued support and dedication to the success of our Culture Week....

Project: A Time To Dance Again Grantee: Old Harbor Alliance Written by: Melissa Berns ‘A Time to Dance, Again’ is a program that was developed by the Old Harbor Alliance, our local non-profit, through a grant with the CIRI Foundation, Alaska State Council on...

Project: ARTShops 2016 Constructing Traditional Kayaks Alaska State Council on the Arts Partnership Written by: Cheri Simeonoff, ARTShop Participant 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...

Project: Akhiok Kids Camp Grantee: Native Village of Akhiok Written by: Speridon Simeonoff Jr. Photo by: Sven Haakanson Jr.  The camp for the project was located at Cape Alitak with the permission of Akhiok-Kaguyak Inc. All campers/supplies must be transported to the location by skiff....

Project: Traditional Material Arts at Elders and Youth Grantee: First Alaskans Institute Story and Photo by: Lena Jacobs, Participant I, along with my four children between the ages of 2 and 13 and my husband, attended the Athabascan beadwork and red and yellow cedar...

Project: Professional Production and Development for Alaska Native Playwrights Grantee: Perseverance Theatre Story by: Frank Henry Kaash Katasse This was what I told a group of students in the International Club at East High School. This room was filled with kids...

Project: First Light at Mount Edgecumbe Grantee: First Light Alaska Story and Photo by: Loulare Moore It was an honor and a pleasure for me to participate in the Mount Edgecumbe classes this spring. Not only was I allowed to share some of what...

Project: Ilanka Cultural Arts Grantee: Native Village of Eyak Story and Photo by: Brooke Johnson Our village was able to receive a grant from The CIRI Foundation in 2016 to study our local masks and work on making our own stained glass mask, a...

Story by: Denise Tuttle (2017) “Going Back to School” Although I teach full-time and have periodically taken educational classes, a Master's Degree seemed unreachable for me. I wondered if I could manage as a full-time teacher, a mom, a wife and a...

Story and Photo by: Vanessa Standard (2017) Dear TCF- Thank you so much for the generous vocational grant that you awarded me. I was able to graduate with my yoga teacher training certification. I am now working with others – teaching them...

Project: Radio Series on “50 Years: Reflect, Refresh, Renew” at the 2016 AFN Convention Grantee: Koahnic Broadcast Corporation Photos by: Koahnic Broadcast Corporation These images show the AFN broadcasts and the "Youth Media Makers" sessions from the Elders and Youth Conference. Alaska's Native Voice Alaska's Native Voice Youth...

Project: Radio Series on "50 Years: Reflect, Refresh, Renew" at the 2016 AFN Convention Grantee: Koahnic Broadcast Corporation Story by: Joel de Jesus I had the opportunity to participate in a Koahnic Broadcast Corporation project that was funded by a Heritage Project Grant from...

Story and Photo by: Ashlee Rowland (2017) As of October I graduated from my vigorous 800 hour nutrition certification program. I learned so much during the program and would now love to get plugged into the native community or just the Alaskan...

Story and Photo by: Christian Kamkoff The cultural support of American Indians and Alaskan Natives is incredibly important to the community. A critical component of this support comes through cultural preservation. Equally significant, however, is the continued growth of Native American culture....

Project: Traditional Alutiiq Skin Sewing and Beading Education (2015) Grantee: Native Village of Afognak Story and Photos by: Nina Gronn The Native Village of Afognak (NVA) was awarded A Journey To What Matters grant from the CIRI Foundation. NVA used the funding at our...

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...

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...

My mother tied the makeshift plastic bib around my tiny torso checking to make sure it wasn’t too tight. Guiding my pudgy hands, she gently dipped them into a small bowl of paint (non-toxic of course) and pressed it against...

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...

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 Written by: Annette Topham In June I had the opportunity to participate in the first half of a two part...

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...

Project: Angyaaq Construction at Akhiok Kids Camp Grantee: Native Village of Akhiok Photos by: Sven Haakanson 

My name is Tammy Tuttle Ashley, daughter to Terry and Delores Tuttle. I am an original CIRI shareholder born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. My Grandmother Alma (Foster) McCormick and Mother were born on Unga Island in the Shumagin Islands...

The end of my junior year at UAS was beginning to approach. Weather in Juneau, while as rainy as ever, was starting to reach toward summertime warmth. Sunshine glowed on the ocean, classes finished one by one, I closed the...

I was born and raised in various parts of the great state of Alaska. My mom (Dena'ina Athabascan) is from Lake Iliamna and my dad (Yup'ik and German) is from Alexander Creek near Mt. Susitna. From a young age, I...

My name is Cynthia Baldwin the daughter of Nicholas and Patricia Baldwin. My great grandmother, Lucy Whitley, is the original CIRI Shareholder that I descend from on my mother's side. I guess you can say I grew up in the Education...

  I began my college career torn between pursuing law or medicine. I quickly realized neither one was for me. On a whim, I had taken a Computer Science course. It was love at first byte. I made the scary choice...

Hi my name is Vivian Pomeroy, I am Inupiaq and Tsimshian from Anchorage, Alaska. I am one of the few Alaska Native students attending Haskell Indian Nations University. This May, I will be graduating with my Associates Degree in Liberal Arts....

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...

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...

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...

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...

Project: Haida Regalia Making Grantee: Hydaburg City School District Written by: Priscilla Goulding Our project was making Haida regalia in the Hydaburg School (Hydaburg City School District) in grades K-12 as well as the Kasaan School, (part of Southeast Island School District).  Years ago, seniors would make...

Project: Material Traditions: Gut, Ivory, and Cedar Grantee: Anchorage Museum Association Organized by the Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center at the Anchorage Museum and held at the Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center in Bethel Photos Shared by: Tatiana Berryman

Project: Material Traditions: Gut, Ivory and Cedar Grantee: Anchorage Museum Association Organized by the Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center at the Anchorage Museum and held at the Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center in Bethel Written by: Hillary Vild, participant No, I am not performing surgeries at the hospital and...

Project: ARTShops 2016 Grass Sewers of Naknek Alaska State Council on the Arts Partnership Story and Photo by: Anna Hoover, ARTShop leader The ARTShops program is a collaboration between the Alaska State Council on the Arts, the Alaska Arts and Culture Foundation and...

Project: Haa Too Yei Yatee: It Is Inside of Us Grantee: Hoonah City School Written by: Heather Powell, Project Director, Haa Kusteeyí Áyá, Hoonah City School, and Yaxdulákt Mary Jack We are on a Journey to What Matters. This journey is to empower...