Transformation Masks Coloring Book Now Available
Transformation Masks coloring book is now available through SHI. The book by Pamela Huteson celebrates masks of both past and present, and honors the lives and dances of the indigenous people of the Northwest Coast. It features twenty-eight illustrations that include information about what is depicted in the designs...(more)

SHI Commissions Play for Summer Theater
"Kóoshdaa kaa" is an original theater piece commissioned by the Sealaska Heritage institute in partnership with Perseverance Theatre. Sealaska has commissioned and funded a play for the past five years through the Summer Theatre Arts Rendezvous (STAR) program. This year's story was chosen by Sealaska President Rosita Worl and is being written by Perseverance's Associate Managing Director Merry Ellefson...(more) (News Article) (STAR Web)

SHI Job Opportunity
SHI is recruiting for a Finance Associate to assist in the Finance Department. This position will perform varied finance duties with minimum supervision...(more)

Unique Haida Curriculum Series Distributed
Series Includes Haida Audio CDs
SHI has produced a unique collection of Haida curriculum for distribution to schools with Haida language programs, in hopes of weaving more Native lessons into the public school system. The curriculum, a series of elementary-level, thematic units, features Haida language, culture and history...(more) (Radio Actualities) (Online Version) (News Article) (News Article)

New Book Review on Celebration Book Published
Karen Duffek wrote a review for the University of British Columbia on SHI's photo book of Celebration. The review was written for BC Studies, The British Columbian Quarterly, spring 2009 edition. Celebration: Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian Dancing on the Land is on sale now for $20. (Read Review)

Photo: Uncovering an eagle
See a photo in the Juneau Empire of Joe Young and his brother TJ working on an Eagle totem pole at the University of Alaska Southeast. The project is sponsored by Sealaska Heritage Institute and Sealaska Corporation, which donated the 15-ton, 45-foot, red-cedar log. (News Photo) (more photos)

SHI Acquires Rare Books About Southeast Native Cultures
SHI Archivist Zachary Jones wrote a blog this week about some of the rare, old books the institute has acquired. Some of them were written and illustrated by tourists in the 1800s, when it was common for visitors to publish their travel accounts as books. Some of the books also include old photos taken in Southeast Alaska. The oldest dates to 1798. Zachary notes in his blog that he also looks for books in European languages since "Europeans visited Alaska regularly before and after it became an American territory. Often these non-English language books go unstudied, but a careful observation shows that they can yield interesting information for those not fluent in European languages." Check out his blog for more information and to see photos! (blog)

Carvers Begin Work on Eagle Totem!
Brothers T.J. and Joe Young are in Juneau carving an Eagle totem pole for the University of Alaska Southeast. The project is sponsored by Sealaska Heritage Institute and Sealaska Corporation, which donated the 15-ton, 45-foot, red-cedar log. The artists are Sealaska shareholders who live in Hydaburg on Prince of Wales Island. They have carved other totems, including a 40-foot pole for the Sitka National Historical Park and a 32-foot crest pole for the Hydaburg Totem Park...(more) (Photos)

Application for 2009 Latseen Hoop Camps Available
SHI is accepting applications for its 2009 Latseen Hoop Camps. The program is designed to integrate the Tlingit language into an intensive week of basketball camp. It's a fun and supportive learning environment where students can participate in a basketball camp that emphasizes fundamental skills, language acquisition, character development, teamwork, and cultural heritage. (Flyer) (Application)

SHI Acquires Old Photos of Cape Fox Village, Capt. Jack's House
SHI has obtained two historical photos of Cape Fox Village circa 1899 and another of a scene at Killisnoo, circa 1900. The Cape Fox photo (right) was likely from the Harriman Expedition in 1899. The second image shows an interior view "Capt. Jack's" house at Killisnoo. Kitcheenault or Kichnaalx was Jake's Tlingit name. He was from the Deisheetaan Clan of Angoon...(more)

Juneau School Students Learn About Ku.éex
SHI in May sponsored a ku.éex at Glacier Valley Elementary School. The event is spearheaded by semi-fluent Tlingit speaker Hans Chester, a teacher at the school. The goal is to teach Native and non-Native students about some of the events that take place at formal ku.éex (a ceremony sometimes called a potlatch). Nearly 90 children participated, including students from Harborview Elementary.

Canadian Tlingits to Sponsor Their Own Celebration!
The Teslin Tlingit Council is sponsoring its first Celebration in 2009. Ha Kus Teyea Celebration, Part of the Land, Part of the Water is set for July 22-28 in Teslin. They were inspired by the biennial Celebration organized by Sealaska Heritage Institute, and a delegation from Teslin met with representatives from SHI in 2008 to learn more about how the Juneau Celebration is organized. The Teslin event will be similar to the Alaska festival and offer ceremonies, language nests, traditional harvests, an artists' market and a juried art show. Check out their website to learn more! (Website) (News Release)

SHI Participates in Field Trip to Glacier Bay
SHI participated in a field trip to Glacier Bay designed to give Hoonah students a first-hand look at their ancestral home. SHI's Tlingit Language Specialist Linda Belarde introduced the institute's language and education resources to the students and community members. Many of these language resources are available online. The field trip, known as "Bridging the Knowledge Gap Between Huna Tlingit Elders and Youth," was sponsored by Huna Heritage Foundation and Hoonah City Schools. (Photos)

Photos of Log Delivery and Acceptance Ceremony Posted Online
See photos of Tee Harbor Construction delivering a 45-foot, 15-ton log to the University of Alaska Southeast for an Eagle Totem. Delivery is followed by an acceptance ceremony organized by Wooch.een, a Native student club on campus. The log will be carved into an Eagle totem pole, which was commissioned to balance the Raven totem pole already on campus...(more about this project)

SHI, KIC Sponsor Language Workshop
SHI and Ketchikan Indian Community (KIC) sponsored a workshop for language teachers and curriculum developers in Ketchikan. Almost 30 people from Ketchikan, Saxman, Hydaburg and Metlakatla participated. The workshop introduced participants to both long and short term planning for second-language teaching.  Practical, hands-on activities based on a developmental language process were also introduced. The training included language teaching for kindergarten through high school grades and presented a format for using already developed classroom materials. 

Artists Chosen to Carve Eagle Totem Pole for SHI, University
Ceremonial Acceptance of the Log Scheduled Thursday at UAS
Artists Joe and TJ Young have won a contract to carve a totem pole for Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) on behalf of the University of Alaska Southeast. A selection committee comprised of SHI and UAS representatives chose the brothers from a pool of applicants last week. “I’m very pleased we did have a number of artists who submitted bids and I will say it was a difficult decision because we had some really very exciting designs from the different artists,” said SHI President Rosita Worl. "I really want to thank Sealaska, the Aak’w Kwáan and our student group Wooch.éen for working with the university on this project,” said UAS Chancellor John Pugh. “I am pleased this is taking place on the UAS campus so students can observe the carving process...(more) (News Article) (Photos)

Hear Clan Names in Tlingit!
SHI has posted audio of Tlingit speaker John Marks and June Pegues reciting Clans on the Raven and Eagle sides. See Language Resources.

Audio Component of Tlingit Curriculum Now Online!
The audio component of Tlingit curriculum released in 2007 is now available online. Scroll down the curriculum page and use the audio tools in conjunction with the pdf documents. The audio component was formerly available only on CD. SHI posted the audio tools to make the materials more accessible. Teachers are encouraged to use SHI's curriculum and other teaching tools.

Native Thinkers, Writers, Eligible to Win $10,000 Awards
The Alaska Federation of Natives, in a partnership with the National Congress of American Indians and the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, have launched a new economic essay contest entitled Native Insights on the Economy & Recovery. This is a national competition for Alaska Native thinkers & writers, Native Hawaiians and American Indians. Six cash prizes of $10,000 each will be awarded in October. The contest is open now and will close on September 15.  (Website)

Deadline for Proposals for Totem Extended to April 24
Sealaska Heritage Institute has extended the deadline for proposals to carve and paint a 36 foot traditional style totem pole.  The pole will include the following Eagle crests: Eagle, Shark, Wolf, and Thunderbird. Proposals must be postmarked no later than April 24. (Request for Proposals) (News Article)

SHI Awards $446,000 in Scholarships
SHI has awarded approximately $446,000 in scholarships to Sealaska shareholders and descendants. The awards, funded by Sealaska Corporation, will help students pursuing graduate and undergraduate degrees and voc-tech training for the 2009-2010 school year. A portion also will fund heritage studies, language studies and culture camps...(more) (News Article)

SHI, KIC to Sponsor Language Workshop for Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian
SHI's Education Director Jim MacDiarmid will conduct a workshop for Native language teachers and curriculum developers in Ketchikan April 30-May 1. MacDiarmid, author of the well-known publication “Replacing Thing-a-ma-jig – the Developmental Language Process,” will demonstrate practical, hands-on activities for teaching second languages and present a format for using already-developed classroom materials. SHI is co-sponsoring the workshop with the Ketchikan Indian Community. Space is limited. Contact Cara Wallace at 228-5162 or cwallace@kictribe.org to reserve space...(more) (News Article) (Read a News Article about his recent class in Juneau)

Application for Latseen Leadership Camp Now Available
SHI is accepting applicants for its annual Latseen Leadership Camp. The camp is for high school students who are Sealaska shareholders or shareholder descendants. The goal is to cultivate the art of leadership through camp activities and coursework which are based on traditional and scientific knowledge. Students will earn high school and college credit. The camp runs July 12-24 in Juneau at UAS. Scholarships will be awarded to cover the cost of tuition, meals, transportation and campus housing.  Application must be postmarked no later than May 22, 2009. For more information contact Sarah Dybdahl at 586-9234...(more) (Application) (Required Documents) (Recommendation Form) (Student essay about Latseen) (News Article)

SHI Seeks Artist to Carve Totem Pole
Sealaska Heritage Institute is soliciting Requests for Proposals to carve and paint a 36 foot traditional style totem pole.  The pole will include the following Eagle crests: Eagle, Shark, Wolf, and        Thunderbird. Deadline to apply is April 20. (Request for Proposals)

SHI Clothing Marked Down
SHI has slashed prices for its Celebration 2008 t-shirt, We Who Are (Tlingit, Haida or Tsimshian) hoodies (also available in chocolate). See also SHI's Sun t-shirt. Sale is limited to stock on hand.