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Sept. 29, 2006

SHI SETS DATES FOR CELEBRATION 2008

Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) will sponsor the next Celebration June 5-7, 2008, in Juneau.

The theme will focus on land, said SHI President Rosita Worl, noting the institute plans to release a book identifying Native place names across the region. The institute also is planning to release a book featuring photos of dancers and their regalia at Celebration, a biennial dance and culture festival.

The festival likely will include new activities highlighting traditional Native foods, including contests for the best red ribbon seaweed and the best soapberries.

“The world is realizing how healthy traditional Native foods truly are,” said Worl, citing recent clamor for wild, Alaska salmon and Southeast blueberries, deemed a super-food by some researchers. “We already sponsor a black seaweed contest during Celebration. We want to add other contests so our young people learn more about other traditional foods.”

The institute also plans to hold its second, biennial Baby Regalia Review since the first review proved popular during Celebration 2006.

“The very young children had a hard time during the review, though, so we’ll limit the age range to 2-4 years,” said Worl.

The Yakutat Mt. St. Elias Dancers were chosen to lead Celebration, an honor given to one group each festival.

Celebration is a festival of Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian tribal members organized every two years by SHI. Since it began in 1982, it has grown into one of the largest events in the state.

SHI is a Native nonprofit established in 1981 to administer educational and cultural programs for Sealaska, a regional Native corporation formed under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. The institute’s mission is to perpetuate and enhance Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian cultures.

CONTACT: Dr. Rosita Worl, SHI President, 463-4844