6 HIGHLIGH 201 TS SEALASKA HERITAGE INSTITUTE 2013 Annual Report 1 1 www.sealaskaheritage.org Copyright © 2017 Sealaska Heritage Institute All rights reserved. SEALASKA HERITAGE INSTITUTE 155 S. Seward St., Suite 201 Juneau, Alaska 99801 907.463.4844 • www.sealaskaheritage.org ISBN 978–1–946019–07–3 Cover graphic: “Weaving Traditional Knowledge into our Future” Celebration 2016 art by David R. Boxley. Cover design by Kathy Dye. Back cover: 2016 Rock Your Mocs day at Sealaska Heritage Institute. Photo by Nobu Koch. Design and composition by Kathy Dye. PHOTO CREDITS Photos by Brian Wallace and Nobu Koch except for the following: page 4: Sealaska Heritage by Ken Graham; page 5: Rosita Worl by Scott Areman; page 20: left photo by Christy Eriksen, prison photo courtesy of Lemon Creek Correctional Facility; page 22: canoe project by Erin Fulton and Ryan Carpenter, courtesy of the National Park Service; pages 36–37: Latseen Leadership Academy by Carmaleeda Estrada; page 39: Lance Twitchell by Christy Eriksen; page 47: Angels Project by Jennifer Treadway and Heather McClain; page 55: Rosita Worl by Kathy Dye; page 56: headdress by Kathy Dye; page 70: Sealaska Heritage by Ken Graham; page 76: staff by Tammie Hanson; page 79: Teri Rofkar by James Poulson. 2 // 2016 annual report TABLE OF CONTENTS About Sealaska Heritage Institute • 4 Letter from the President • 5 Programs Celebration 2016 • 7 Art Program • 19 Education Program • 29 Culture and History Program • 43 Advocacy • 55 Donors • 59 Financials • 71 Boards and Committees • 75 Staff • 77 Farewell • 79 3 About Sealaska Heritage Sealaska Heritage Institute is a private nonprofit founded in 1980 at the urging of Elders to ensure the survival of Southeast Alaska Native cultures. SHI’s goals are to promote cultural diversity and cross-cultural understanding through public services and events. SHI also conducts social scientific and public policy research and advocacy that promotes Alaska Native arts, cultures, history, and education statewide. The institute is governed by a Board of Trustees and guided by a Council of Traditional Scholars, a Native Artist Committee and a Southeast Regional Language Committee. Its mission is to perpetuate and enhance Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian cultures of Southeast Alaska. SHI operates from the Walter Soboleff Building, an education and research facility in Juneau opened by the institute in 2015. 4 // 2016 annual report LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT I am eternally grateful for and frankly in awe of the material culture our ancestors left to us. Nothing on Earth compares to the great Northwest Coast totem poles and clan houses that populate Haa Aaní—Our Land—or to the intricate Chilkat and Ravenstail woven robes that can take years to complete. One could spend a lifetime mastering the rules governing the formline designs that make the material culture of the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian so unique. We have a dream to make Juneau the Northwest Coast art capital of the world and to designate our ancestors’ legacy as a national treasure. Sealaska Heritage is committed to maintaining the integrity of Northwest Coast art and operates programs SHI President Rosita Kaaháni Worl. to teach formline, carving, weaving, and other practices. In 2016, we signed a landmark agreement with the Institute of American Indian Arts and the University of Alaska Southeast to provide expanded Northwest Coast art programs and opportunities for Alaska students. SHI also works with schools to incorporate Native art, 52,000 cultures and languages into classrooms, as our studies have TOTAL PEOPLE shown it helps Native students academically. This year, SERVED IN 2016 the Juneau schools superintendent reported the highest graduation rates ever, and he gave special recognition to Alaska Native students at Thunder Mountain High School who graduated at a rate of almost 100 percent. letter from the president // 5 As part of that effort, we continually produce curricula, books, and other materials for use by students. In 2016, we published the first of a series of culturally-based children’s books through our Baby Raven Reads program. SHI also wrapped a three-year program that paired Tlingit language learners with fluent mentors in an effort to revitalize the language and unveiled its first Tlingit language apps plus a podcast. Not very long ago, we were worried our languages would not survive. But we are heartened today to once again and at long last hear our languages spoken by young people. In 2016, we also sponsored our biennial Celebration, a major dance-and-culture festival organized by SHI and attended by thousands of people. And, we established an endowment to fund our programs for future generations. The endowment is a manifestation of our cultural value Haa Shuká, through which we honor past, present, and future generations. Our ancestors’ legacy lives on today. What an honor it is to claim that legacy, to help pass it on to present and future generations, and to share it with the world. Rosita Kaaháni Worl President 6 // 2016 annual report CELEBRATION Sealaska Heritage sponsors a major, biennial festival to celebrate the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian cultures of Southeast Alaska. First held in 1982, Celebration has grown into one of the largest events in the state. Celebration 2016 served more than 10,000 people, including 4,200 attendees and another 6,000 who watched the live webcast. A 2012 study showed the economic impact of Celebration on Juneau is $2 million each time SHI sponsors Celebration, and SHI has since expanded it to a four-day event. • Dance Performances & Parade • Juried Art Shows & Competitions & Exemplary Exhibit • Native Fashion Show 10,200 • Native Food Contests PEOPLE SERVED IN 2016 • Weaving Presentation and Class • Native Comedy Show • Northwest Coast Art Market • Toddler Regalia Review • Lectures and Film Screenings celebration // 7 Dance Performances Above and right: Celebration 2016 dance performances. Traditionally, dancers shook eagle down from their shakee. át (headdress), and the down was a symbol of peace. Opposite: Nathan Jackson, leader of the L’ukaax.ádi clan, dancing at Celebration 2016. 8 // 2016 annual report celebration // 9 “Exemplary Works” Above: Visitor examining pieces shown in SHI’s “Exemplary Works” exhibit, which was curated in 2016 for the first time to reflect the best of Northwest Coast art today as learned from the old masters. Featured artists included Nathan Jackson, David A. Boxley, Delores Churchill, Robert Davidson, and Preston Singletary. Right: “Eagle Feast bowl” by David A. Boxley, “Exemplary Works” exhibit. 10 // 2016 annual report “Shark Mask” by Nathan Jackson, “Exemplary Works” exhibit. Juried Art Shows & Competitions Clockwise from above left: Juried Art Show and Competition division winners: “Hungry Sea Lion” by Jennifer Younger, Best of Carving and Sculpture Division; “Chilkat Child” by Clarissa Rizal, Best of Weaving Division; “Lax’o” (meadow) by Kandi McGilton, Best of Sewing Division. Below left: Juried Youth Art Exhibit winner, Middle School Division, “Warrior Armor and Helmet” by sixty-one sixth grade students from Dzantik’I Heeni Middle School in Juneau. “Txaamsem and the Steelhead Salmon” acrylic on paper (not pictured) by Jeanette Kaleikau-Buxton of Metlakatla won first place in the High School Division. 12 // 2016 annual report Tsimshian artist David R. Boxley took Best of Show and Best of Formline in SHI’s Juried Art Show and Competition for “Txaamsem,” which also won Best of Division in 2-Dimensional Drawing. Native Fashion Show At Celebration 2016, SHI debuted the event’s first Native Fashion Show. Eighteen designers showed pieces, including a silver-tipped- fringe gown (left) by Tlingit artists Lily Hope and her aunt Deanna Lampe and an evening gown (above) by Haida artist Dorothy Grant. 14 // 2016 annual report Celebration 2016 Toddler Regalia Review. Toddler Regalia Review celebration // 15 Weavers’ Presentation and Art Market Celebration 2016 included a weavers’ presentation organized and hosted by weaver Clarissa Rizal (above) and a Northwest Coast art market. 16 // 2016 annual report Left, top and middle: Celebration 2016 included Native food contests, including one for best soapberries, a traditional food. Left, bottom: SHI Board of Trustees Chair Marlene Johnson and SHI President Rosita Worl sample soapberries. Below: Celebration 2016 also featured a comedy show with comedian Cody Ferguson. Food Contests and Comedy Show celebration // 17 “Cat Lady” by Alison Bremner, 2nd place formline, 2016 Juried Art Show and Competition. 18 // 2016 annual report ART PROGRAM Sealaska Heritage sponsors programs to teach ancient art forms, expand markets for Northwest Coast artists, and to educate others about Native art. SHI’s goals are to make Juneau the Northwest Coast art capital of the world and to establish Northwest Coast art as a national treasure. • Art Workshops • Dugout Canoe Project & Mentor-Apprentice Teams • Artists in Residence • Landmark Agreement with IAIA & UAS • Native Art Markets 28,300 • First Fridays PEOPLE SERVED IN 2016 • Arts Excursions • Native Artist Database • Artists Gatherings art program // 19 Skin-Sewing Workshops SHI sponsored skin-sewing workshops in Seattle, Angoon, Yakutat, and Anchorage and for inmates at Juneau’s correctional center in 2016. The goals are to revitalize this ancient practice and to give people skills to earn a living making Northwest Coast art. Classes are taught by Louise Kadinger (top, left) and Carmaleeda Estrada (above, in center). 20 // 2016 annual report SHI in 2016 sponsored workshops on cedar bark weaving for children through the BAM (Body & Mind) after school program in Juneau, Craig, and Sitka. Left: Weaver and teacher Della Cheney. Below: Weaver and teacher Ricky Tagaban. Cedar-Bark Weaving Classes art program // 21 Dugout Canoe Carving Project SHI in 2016 partnered with Sitka National Historical Park to make a full-size, Native canoe in an effort to preserve the ancient but endangered knowledge of making the traditional watercraft known as dugouts. Top: The project was led by master carver Steve Brown (wearing cap), who mentored artists T.J.