Sealaska Heritage Institute Operational Recordings, 1982-present

Collection Overview

Title: Sealaska Heritage Institute Operational Recordings, 1982-present

ID: MC/032

Creator: Sealaska Heritage Institute

Extent: 0.0 Boxes

Date Acquired: 00/00/1982

Languages: English [eng], Tlingit [tli], Haida [hai], Tsimshian [tsi]

Scope and Contents of the Materials

This collection contains the audio/visual recordings associated with the programs operated by Sealaska Heritage Institute from 1983 to the present. The records represent the efforts towards language and cultural knowledge preservation through various programs and councils. The collection has been arranged into seven series:

Series 1: Council of Traditional Scholars

Series 2: Latseen Leadership Academy

Series 3: Sealaska Meetings and Reports

Series 4: Language Department Recordings

Series 5: Celebration Presentations

Series 6: Sealaska Heritage Foundation Elders Meetings

Series 7: Special Events Recordings

Series 8: Naa Kahida Theater Recordings

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 Source: Sealaska Heritage Institute

Acquisition Method: The material in the collection was generated by SHI since SHI’s creation and the collection will continue to grow as SHI creates more recordings of this nature and adds them to this collection.

Box and Folder Listing

Series 1: Council of Traditional Scholars

Series 2: Latseen Leadership Academy

Series 3: Sealaska Meetings and Reports

Series 4: Language Department Recordings

Box 1: Language recordings

Audio recording of Tlingit songs and chants, July 2004. CD.

Moving image recording labeled ‘Lingít X’éináx sá! Say it in Tlingit Phrasebook Computer Video Ch. 1 & 2’, 2005. DVD.

Moving image recording labeled ‘Beginning Lingít Language; Total Physical Response Computer Video’, 2005. DVD.

Moving image recording labeled ‘Tlingit Language & Cultural Class’, January 2008. Harborview Elementary School. DVD. 2 copies.

Moving image recording labeled ‘Language video’, August 2008. DVD.

Moving image recording of Language Department Programs Overview, 2008. Labeled ‘Native Language Revitalization in Southeast Alaska; An overview of efforts to document and revive Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian languages’. DVD. 8 copies.

Audio recording labeled ‘Shaan Yaak’utlaax read by David Katzeek’, date unknown. Story belongs to the Kiks.ádi clan. CD. 2 copies.

Audio recording labeled ‘Shaan Yaak’utlaax final draft’, date unknown. Speaker is David Katzeek. Story belongs to the Kiks.ádi clan. CD.

Audio recording of Walter Soboleff speaking about Tlingit values, January 2004. Both Tlingit and English spoken. CD.

Mini Disc. 7/14/05. Final evening Angoon Immersion. Clarence

Jackson, Peter Jack, Albert Kooshesh, David Katzeek.[1]

Item 11: Mini Disc. Labeled: 3-25-04. Tlingit word Committee 18t day. Disc one.

Item 12: Mini Disc. Labeled: Tlingit Word Community Disc 2, first day. 3-25-04.

Item 13: Mini Disc. Labeled: Tlingit Word Disc 3. 3-25-04.

Item 14: Mini Disc. Labeled: Tlingit Word Committee disc 4, 18t day. 3-25-04.

Item 15: Mini Disc. Labeled: Tlingit Word Committee disc 5, day 1. 3-25-04.

Item 16: Mini Disc. Labeled: Tlingit Word Committee disc 1, day 2.3-26-04.

Item 17: Mini Disc. Labeled: Tlingit Word Committee meeting disc 2, day 2. 3-26-04

Item 18: Mini Disc. Labeled: Tlingit Word Committee meeting disc 3, day 2. 3-26-04.

Item 19: Mini Disc. Labeled: Tlingit Word Committee disc 4, day 2. 3-26-04.

Item 20: Mini Disc. Labeled: Ruth Demmert. Lesson on Posters/ Stories from assessment test (?) 7/12/05.

Item 21: Mini Disc. Labeled: Ed Gamble. Angoon Immersion Retreat. Clarence

Jackson. 7-17-05.

Item 22: Mini Disc. Labeled: Kaagwaantaan tunic reception SHI lobby. #4 Frank

White. 10/6/05.

Item 23: Labeled: Tlingit Immersion Angoon, Lydia George. 7/10/05.

Item 24: Labeled: Friday, CTS [Council of Traditional Scholars] mtg. 11am-12am.

Item 25: Labeled: Jordan. Fri Aft. CTS mtg.

Item 26: Labeled: George [Ramos].

Item 27: Mini Disc. Unlabeled.

Item 28: Mini Disc. Unlabeled.

Item 29: Mini Disc. Unlabeled.

Item 30: Mini Disc. Labeled: Hoonah. Immersion. Not much Tlingit, 3 hours.

Item 31: Mini Disc. Labeled: Dinner Time. Goonxax, shaxaawu, shaatkisgani.

9/13/03.

Item 32: Mini Disc. Labeled: Sneaky Sounds run through. 2 of 2. 5/1/06.

Item 33: Mini Disc. Labeled: CTS mtg. H. Kitka, P. Jack, C. Jackson. May 1,2003.

Item 34: Mini Disc. Labeled: Meeting of Communities. Immersion evaluation. Disc 3. 9/26/05.

Item 35: Mini Disc. Labeled: Meeting of the communities. Immersion Evaluation.

Disc 2. 9/25/05.

Item 36: Mini Disc. Labeled: Ed Gamble. Angoon Immersion. 7/9/05.

Item 37: Mini Disc. Labeled: CTS morning. May 2.

Item 38: Mini Disc. Labeled: Clarence Jackson. Tlingit Words. 17 April, 2004.

Item 39: Mini Disc. Labeled: Dog Point Immersion Retreat. 2004. Tues Aug 17 night, Wed Aug 18, morning.

Item 40: Mini Disc, Labeled: Songs from 8 up (?), July 2004.

Item 41: Mini Disc. Labeled: Salmon Boy script- Johnny & Roseanna.

Item 42: Mini Disc. Labeled: Jenni Jim. Lydia George, Clarence Jackson, Angoon

Immersion.

Item 43: Mini Disc. Labeled: CTS mtg. H. Kitka, P. Jackson, C. Jackson. 2/2. May 1, 03.

Item 44: Mini Disc. Labeled: Meeting of the communities. Immersion Evaluation.

Disc 1. 9/25/05.

Item 45: Mini Disc. Labeled: Anna Katzeek on words for Gold Medal Cards.

Item 46: Mini Disc. Unlabeled.

Item 47: Mini Disc. Unlabeled.

Item 48: Mini Disc. Unlabeled.

Item 49: Mini Disc. Unlabeled.

Item 50: Mini Disc. Unlabeled.

Item 51: Mini Disc. Unlabeled.

Item 52: Mini Disc. Unlabeled.

Item 53: Mini Disc. Unlabeled.

Item 54: Mini Disc. Unlabeled.

Item 55: Mini Disc. Labeled: George Ramos greetings. Aret a kings (?). 12/17/04.

Item 56: Mini Disc. Labeled: Helen Swabia (?) TKE. Berry Unit! Family m (?).

12/6/04.

Item 57: Mini Disc. Labeled: Tracks 1-50 Lingit Alphabet D.K. Tracks 51-58.

Item 58: Labeled: Introductions by traditional scholars. 12/17/04

Item 59: Mini Disc. Labeled: Beading class? Dancing and singing. 9112103.

Item 60: Mini Disc. Labeled: Tlingit Alpha & Johnny's David K. Phrases for games.

Item 61: Mini Disc. Labeled: Closing comments, Tlingit Language Immersion Retreat. 23 Aug 2002.

Item 62: Mini Disc. Labeled: Frank White telling a story with Linda Belarde. 8/SKP.

Box 2: Various working recordings of SHI’s language department. Formats include CD, DVD, MiniDisc, and other.

Box 3: Various working recordings of SHI’s language department. Formats include CD, DVD, and VHS.

Series 5: Celebration Presentations

Box 1: Recordings

Audio recording of a song composed by Harold Jacobs for the Sealaska Heritage Foundation, date unknown. Cassette tape.

Audio recording labeled ‘Planning for Celebration ‘84”, 1984. Cassette tape.

Audio recording of an art lecture by Robert Davidson, 6/4/2004. CD.

Audio recording labeled ‘Haida TPR, Celebration 2006’. CD.

Moving image recording labeled ‘Ceremony Honoring Peter Jack, Celebration 2006’. DVD.

Moving image recording labeled ‘Soapberry Contest, Celebration 2008’. DVD.

Moving image recording of a lecture by Robert Davidson, entitled ‘Being Successful is no Accident: The Business of Art’, 6/5/2010. DVD. 2 copies.

Moving image recording of a lecture by Brian Kemp PhD, entitled ‘Mitochondrial DNA Variation Among Native Southeastern Alaskans, 6/4/2010. DVD. 2 copies.

Series 6: Sealaska Heritage Foundation Elders Meetings

Box 1: Recordings

Content Note: Series 6, Box 1, Items 1 - 14 consists of audio recording of the Sealaska Celebration Program Committee from January 18 - 19, 1982. The Program Committee comprised of several notable Tlingit Elders, including Judson Brown, Patrick Paul, George Davis, William Johnson, Austin Hammond, and others. Judson Brown first serves as the Chair of the committee while later Patrick Paul takes over those duties. Items discussed include: content of the Celebration activities; selection of guests to be accommodated for travel, per diem, and housing; and integrating the finer points of Tlingit culture and values into a new modern venue. While much of the meeting is focused on the details of event planning, the meeting is equally infused with Tlingit oratory and philosophy told in both Tlingit and English. Each Elder offers at least one cultural speech addressing a concern of theirs in the process of transmitting tradition, and several of the speeches are outstanding documents of Tlingit oratory.

Audio recording of SHF Elders meeting, January 18-19, 1982. Labeled ‘Program Committee #2’. Mini tape and CD.

Audio recording of SHF Elders meeting, January 18-19, 1982. Labeled ‘Program Committee #5’. Mini tape, and CD.

Audio recording of SHF Elders meeting, January 18-19, 1982. Labeled ‘Program Committee #4’. Mini tape, and CD.

Audio recording of SHF Elders meeting, January 18-19, 1982. Labeled ‘Program Committee #7’. Mini tape, and CD.

Audio recording of SHF Elders meeting, January 18-19, 1982. Labeled ‘Program Committee #10’. Mini tape.

Audio recording of SHF Elders meeting, January 18-19, 1982. Labeled ‘Program Committee #12’. Mini tape.

Audio recording of SHF Elders meeting, January 18-19, 1982. Labeled ‘Program Committee #14’. Mini tape.

Audio recording of SHF Elders meeting, January 18-19, 1982. Labeled ‘Program Committee #15’. Mini tape.

Audio recording of SHF Elders meeting, January 18-19, 1982. Labeled ‘Program Committee #17’. Mini tape.

Audio recording of SHF Elders meeting, January 18-19, 1982. Labeled ‘Program Committee #19’. Mini tape.

Audio recording of SHF Elders meeting, January 18-19, 1982. Labeled ‘Program Committee #21’. Mini tape.

Audio recording of SHF Elders meeting, January 18-19, 1982. Labeled ‘Program Committee #23’. Mini tape.

Audio recording of SHF Elders meeting, January 18-19, 1982. Labeled ‘Program Committee #25’. Mini tape.

Audio recording of SHF Elders meeting, January 18-19, 1982. Labeled ‘Program Committee #26’. Mini tape.

Audio recording of Oral History Conference, January 27-28, 1982. Labeled ‘Oral History Project #1’. Mini tape, and CD. Content note: these recordings contain discussions about conducting oral histories, but are not actual oral histories.

Audio recording of Oral History Conference, January 27-28, 1982. Labeled ‘Oral History Project #2’. Mini tape, and CD.

Audio recording of Oral History Conference, January 27-28, 1982. Labeled ‘Oral History Project #3’. Mini tape.

Audio recording of Elder’s Conference, date unknown. Mini tape.

Series 7: Special Events Recordings

Box 1: Recordings

Digital file of PowerPoint Board of Director’s curriculum presentation, 2007. CD-R.

Moving image recording labeled ‘Koo.éex’ A Celebration at Glacier Valley Elementary School’, May 2009. DVD. 3 copies.

Moving image recording of self-introductions by elders at the Language Proficiency Assessment Workshop, September 23-25, 2010. DVD.

Moving image recording labeled ‘Launching Boat Canoe Sequence’, date unknown. DVD.

Moving image recording labeled ‘Austin Hammond Video Tape 22’, date unknown. DVD.

Audio recording of SHI staff giving a presentation in the Juneau School District about Tlingit culture and art, circa 1990s. Content; includes instruction by Rosita Worl (Shangukeidí Clan) and a Tlingit language oration by Tom Jimmy (Shangukeidí Clan). Format; original cassette and CD [migrated in 2012].

Item 7: CD-ROM with PowerPoint presentations with photographs about SHI’s 2005-2006 ANA SEDS grant project to teach and host weaving and carving workshops in Hoonah, Alaska. The grant funded the workshops and dovetailed with University of Alaska Southeast course offerings toward a NWC art certificate program. Format; 1 CD-ROM.

Item 8: Audiovisual presentation and overview of the ANA-SEDS Hoonah weaving workshop, showing the program and work undertaken, 2006. 11 minutes in length. Format; DVD, two copies.

Item 9: CD-R with digital photographs and digital audiovisual footage of Hoonah weavers harvesting spruce root, 2005, as part of the ANA-SEDS grant.

Item 10: Audiovisual recording and photographs of the Hoonah canoe carving venture via the ANA-SEDS grant, 2006. Format; recording on MP Hi8 mini-tape and photos on CD.

Item 11: Set of 6 audiovisual recordings of Rosita Worl and Aldona Jonaitis teaching NWC Art History and Culture at Hoonah, Alaska, as part of the ANA-SEDS grant in partnership with UAS, Feb. - March 2005. Format; 6 mini digital cassette tapes, recorded in ELP mode.

Item 12: Set of CD recordings of the Hoonah Clan Workshop, April 2007. Recordings cover discussions on the acquisition of crests, descriptions of at.óow, and regalia. Accompanied with paperwork.

Item 13: 14(h)1 atlases developed with SHI in partnership with communities, includes atlases for Angoon and Kake. Some of this was later improved and published in Thomas Thornton’s 2012 book, Our Grandfather’s Names on the Land.

Series 8: Naa Kahida Theater Recordings