Sealaska Corporation Recordings Collection, 1971-2000 | Sealaska Heritage Institute Archives

This collection consists of audio and audiovisual recordings dating from the 1970s up to circa 2000 previously held by the Sealaska Corporation but donated to SHI. These recordings primarily capture events indirectly, and sometimes directly, associated with the Sealaska Corporation. (Researchers should know the Sealaska Corporation still retains recordings that document its direct historic past.) For an example of an indirect association with the Sealaska Corporation, some recordings in this collection capture Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) meetings, in part because the Sealaska Corporation recorded Sealaska Corporation officials who spoke at these meetings, were members of the AFN board, or presented important proposals to AFN. As result many of these recordings document some aspects of the Sealaska Corporation’s work, but also a broader level of Alaska Native issues is documented. Other portions of the collection contain recordings of meetings held in Alaska concerning ANCSA and ANILCA, but the collection also contains recordings of prominent Sealaska officials speaking publicly or being interviewed, sometimes relative to cultural matters, such as with the interviews and speeches of Walter A. Soboleff.

The collection has been organized into 8 Series or groups and described at the box level. These 8 Series are listed below. It is expected that the collection may grow in the future. Researchers should note that the format of some recordings in this collection are outdated, such as various open reel sizes, Umatic tapes, and Betacam tapes, though some VHS and cassette recordings also comprise the collection’s makeup. Researchers who desire to access materials in some formats should know that SHI provides VHS, cassette, and CD/DVD players, but older formats require a special and delayed process as some recordings will have to be professionally migrated to modern format for patron use. Consult the archivist for further details.

Series Listing:

Series 1:           Sealaska 14(h)1 Sites

Series 2:           ANB/ANS Recordings

Series 3:           AFN Recordings

Series 4:           ANCSA, ANILCA, and Various Community/Village Corporation Related Recordings

Series 5:           Specific Conferences/Meetings Topics Recordings

Series 6:           Recordings Associated with Various Sealaska Individuals

Series 7:           Recordings Associated with Various Cultural Events

Series 8:           Central Council of Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska Recordings.