[Back to Formatted Version]

Sealaska Events & Ceremonies Collection, 1985-1995

By Rick Huteson, Archival Assistant

Collection Overview

Title: Sealaska Events & Ceremonies Collection, 1985-1995

ID: PO/028

Creator: Sealaska Heritage Institute

Extent: 3.0 Folders

Scope and Contents of the Materials

This collection consists of various photos collected by and produced by the Sealaska Heritage Institute that date to between 1985 and 1995. Included in this collection are photos of the Sealaska Annual Meeting of 1985, the construction of Naa Kahidi Theater in 1995, carving of a Tlingit totem, and Tlingit ceremonial recognition of multiple individuals at separate events.

Biographical Note

The Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) is a regional Native non-profit organization founded for the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people of Southeast Alaska. SHI was established in 1981 by Sealaska Corp., a for-profit company formed under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA). SHI, formerly Sealaska Heritage Foundation, administers Sealaska Corp.'s cultural and educational programs.

SHI was conceived by Clan Leaders, Traditional Scholars and Elders at the first Sealaska Elders Conference in 1980. During that meeting, the Elders likened Native culture to a blanket. The late George Davis (Kichnáalx—Lk’aanaaw) of Angoon, spoke these memorable words: “We don’t want what you did here to only echo in the air, how our grandfathers used to do things…  Yes. You have unwrapped it for us.  That is why we will open again this container of wisdom left in our care.” These wise traditional leaders told the new leaders that their hands were growing weary of holding onto the metaphorical blanket, this "container of wisdom." They said they were transferring this responsibility to the Corporation. In response to this directive, Sealaska Corporation created its non-profit arm, Sealaska Heritage Institute, to administer cultural and educational programs for the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian.

During its first decade of operation, under the leadership of David Katzeek, SHI began to administer its Scholarship Program from funds set aside by Sealaska Corporation for this purpose. The second major focus at that time was the documentation of oral traditions, a project led by Tlingit scholar Dr. Nora Marks Dauenhauer and her husband, Dr. Richard Dauenhauer. Over nearly a 20-year period, these efforts led to several major publications by the Institute of the Dauenhauer’s work, including:  “Because We Cherish You…” Sealaska Elders Speak to the Future, in 1981; Haa Shuká, Our Ancestors, Volume I of our Tlingit Oral Narratives (1987); Haa Tuwunáagu Yís: for Healing our Spirit. Vol. 2, Tlingit Oral Narratives. (1990); the Third Edition of Beginning Tlingit in 1991; Haa Kusteeyí, Our Culture: Tlingit Life Stories (1994); and Aan Aduspelled X’úx’, Tlingit Spelling Book in 1999. A number of these publications were co-published by the Institute and University of Washington Press. During this period, the Institute also created Naa Kahídi Theater, which won national acclaim for its dramatic presentation of Native legends.

One year after SHI was founded the Institute sponsored the first United Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian Traditional Celebration, held in Juneau. Celebration '82 was so popular that our Board of Trustees decided the festival should become a biennial event. New dance groups began to form in response to Celebration, and every other year, the festival grew. Today, nearly every community in Southeast as well as Anchorage, the Seattle area, Hawaii and Canada, are represented by roughly two-thousand dancers in nearly fifty dance groups. During Celebration, workshops on various aspects of traditional culture and history also occur. Because SHI is the only major region-wide organization dedicated to cultural preservation, its Board of Trustees has mandated that Celebration be dedicated solely to honoring our traditional culture.

More recently, while continuing to honor the Institute's mission statement, “To perpetuate the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian cultures,” the Trustees in 1997 adopted language restoration as the foremost priority of the Institute. Few funds were available initially for this objective, but the Institute launched an aggressive fund-raising campaign, and today, SHI sponsors and supports numerous language and culture programs across Southeast Alaska. The Institute also sponsors archival projects, historical research, and new publications. Since SHI’s founding, it has had four presidents; David Katzeek (1980-1991), Dennis Demmert (1992-1996), Ted Wright (1996-1998), and Rosita Worl (1998-present).

Administrative Information

Acquisition Method: The materials in this collection were transferred to SHI prior to 2007. Many of these images were taken by Sealaska employees, and subsequently transferred to SHI archives.

Box and Folder Listing

Folder 1: PhotographsAdd to your cart.

1:1:      Tlingit elders sitting around a table dressed in dance regalia

1:2:      Tlingit ceremony, individual who was recognized for something is now dancing with a Gaanax.teidi Chilkat blanket

1:3:      Tlingit ceremony, gifting of foods

1:4:      Beaded Raven and Eagle on the back of a Tlingit dance blanket, 1985 Sealaska Annual Meeting, Anchorage.

1:5:      Tlingit dance group performing at the Sealaska Annual Meeting in 1985, Anchorage

1:6:      “Eskimo” dance group performing at the 1985 Sealaska Annual Meeting

1:7:      Tlingit dance group next to people with boxes of canned pink salmon at the 1985 Sealaska Annual Meeting

1:8:      Gloria Sarabia, Austin Hammond, Paul Marks, Lee Florudo, Juneau, Alaska

1:9:      Austin Hammond, Paul Jackson (wearing the stomping shaman tunic), Centennial Hall, Juneau Alaska

1:10:    Tlingit ceremonial dance

1:11:    Nora Dauenhauer recognizing an individual who was gifted the honor of wearing a Gaanax.teidi Chilkat blanket

1:12:    Family of four who are in the process of being recognized at a Tlingit ceremony, David Katzeek in the background

1:13:    Naa Kahidi Theater Totem

1:14:    Naa Kahidi Theater 

1:15:    The laying of foundation for the construction of Naa Kahidi Theater

1:16:    Tlingit artist drawing a Killer Whale clan crest on a drum in preparation for painting

1:17:    An elderly couple displaying Tlingit art work including a large wooden bowl with a Bear clan crest carved on the outside, a Raven clan dance hat

1:18:    Raven clan hat with mink fur hanging out of protruding Raven head 

1:19:    Tlingit wooden bowl with Bear clan crest carved on the outside 

1:20:  Two Tlingit wooden bowls, one with a Bear clan crest carved on the outside and the other is either Eagle or Raven

1:21:    Close up of the large copper medallion on the front of Naa Kahidi Theater

1:22:    Elderly Alaska Native basket weaver

1:23:    Side view of Naa Kahidi Theater

1:24:    Frontal view of Naa Kahidi Theater

1:25:    Interior construction of the fire pit and stage of Naa Kahidi Theater

1:26:    Dona Wock’s Taa (Tlingit tombstone made of copper), Dana Wock was clan leader of the Chilkat until his death in 1904 

1:27:    Small Tlingit totem inside a building

1:28:    Large group of people including Clarence Jackson posing for photo in front of a painting that covers most of the side of a building

1:29:    Close view of the copper medallion on the outside of Naa Kahidi Theater

1:30:    Penciling of a design on a totem in the process of being carved

1:31:    Penciling of the design on the Naa Kahidi Theater building in the process of being painted

1:32:    Individual painting a Tlingit bird design on the back of Naa Kahidi Theater

1:33:    Painting of a Tlingit designed bird on the back side of Naa Kahidi Theater

1:34:    Carver, carving the feet of an animistic creature represented on a Tlingit totem

1:35:    Side perspective of a carver, carving the feed of an animistic creature represent on a Tlingit totem

1:36:    Alaska Native war vet wearing a felt vest with Tlingit designs and military medals pined to the outside

1:37:    Alaska Native war vet wearing a felt vest with an Eagle clan crest sewed on and military medals pinned to the outside

1:38:    “Journey into the New Millennium With our Way of Life” 65th General Assembly, April 12-15, Central Council, recognition of certain elderly individuals

Folder 2: Events at Kake and other, undated to 1995.Add to your cart.

2:1:      Blanket being bestowed upon an elderly male individual as a sign of recognition

2:2:      Tlingit dance group performing, identified blanket:  contemporary, factory produced version of Chief Shakes Killer Whale blanket

2:3:      Male individual performing a Tlingit dance, he is wearing a blanket and large wooden hat carved in the shape of a Tlingit designed Raven

2:4:      Large gathering of Tlingit dancers performing,  a painting of “spouting water” design hangs on the wall in the background as well as a Raven, two headed Eagle and Killer Whale clan crest

2:5:      Tlingit elders conversing in dance regalia, drum clan crest is of Raven.

2:6:      Tlingit dance group performance, identified crest: Raven, Killer Whale

2:7:      Tlingit dance group performance, identified crests: Eagle, Killer Whale, Black Bear

2:8:      Tlingit dance group performance, identified crests: Killer Whale (contemporary remake of Chief Shakes’ blanket), Raven

2:9:      Tlingit dance group performance, man lying on the floor while individual dressed an elderly character with a hunched back leans over man on floor.  People in audience smile with delight

2:10:  Tlingit dance group performance, man lying on floor while individual dressed as a Shaman dances around him.

2:11:  Tlingit dance group performance, man lying on floor while individual wearing blanket pokes man on floor with a sharp stick.

2:12:    Color image showing a gathering of Tlingit and others on what appears to be a south Douglas beach with a Hawaiian Outrigger-ship arriving, summer 1995.

Folder 3: Addendum photographs of various events and people.Add to your cart.

3:1      Color photograph of SHI Board of Trustees, circa 2005.

3:2      Color photograph of SHI Board of Trustees, circa 2005.

3:3      Black and white photograph from the Sealaska Elders Tribute, held Oct. 8, 1980, at the Tlingit & Haida Community Center. Image of unidentified elder.

3:4      Black and white photograph from the Sealaska Elders Tribute, held Oct. 8, 1980, at the Tlingit & Haida Community Center. Image of unidentified woman in traditional dress singing while drumming in front of Sealaska logo.

3:5      Black and white photograph from the Sealaska Elders Tribute, held Oct. 8, 1980, at the Tlingit & Haida Community Center. Image of unidentified woman in traditional dress singing while drumming in front of Sealaska logo.

3:6:      Black and white photograph of David Katzeek, Tlingit, first President of SHI, taken circa 1982.

3:7:      Black and white image taken during Native Emphasis Week showing men in traditional regalia, 1978. Left to right; George Lewis, Charles Jimmie, Jr., David Andrew, and Austin Hammond.

3:8:      Black and white image taken during Native Emphasis Week showing Elsie Green of Juneau dancing in traditional regalia, 1978.

3:9:      Color photograph of Tlingit dance group in regalia posing with ocean in background, 2005. Most in group are youth, and some appear to be from a Mount Saint Elias dance group. Inscription written on the photo is addressed to “Kathy” Dye, SHI photographer, and reads “thanks for everything, a friend, Geo. 1-2-05.

3:10    Polaroid color photograph of the reverse of a button blanket with grizzly bear design. Robe appears to have been worn by Marlita Wallace [?] and was taken at the Third National Indian Conference on Aging, 1980.