Our People Speak Denakkanaaga

Summer’s bounty is here! Fishing, berry picking, and hunting are in full swing. Kathleen Hildebrand joins the series to talk about how to use this bounty to make Alaska Native fish and berry ice cream. She will discuss harvesting the ingredients, along with sharing memories of this tradition and how it promotes Alaska Native culture. To view “The Bounty of Summer: Making Alaska Native Fish and Berry Ice Cream” visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yy4LB-AXcFA.This program is the Season 3, Jul...

Summer's here! What better way to celebrate than going out for that first catch of the season? Kenneth Frank joins the series to help us learn how to prepare to do just that. He focuses on netmaking in this episode, a traditional skill for catching all different kinds of fish. Kenneth describes the basics of netmaking and how to properly use them on the water and the necessity of passing this tradition on to youth to preserve and perpetuate Alaska Native culture. To view “Making Knots and Cas...

Join us as special guests Lena Tickett and Vernell Titus discuss and demonstrate birch bark basketry. They speak about the basic process and materials used in birch bark basketry as well as the significance of them in Alaska Native culture. To view “Peeling Bark, Creating Art- Birch Bark Baskets” visit https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUKkPBrXPiLopLQuUH-KsQgThis program is the Season 1, June episode in Denakkanaaga’s Our People Speak series, which focuses on seasonal Alaska Native cultural to...

What are rites of passage? Jerry Isaac joins the series to speak about important ones in Alaska Native culture, such as birth, puberty, marriage, and death. He describes what rites of passage have remained the same, which have changed over time, and some of the challenges in maintaining these culturally imbued ceremonies. Jerry shares the necessity of passing these traditions on to youth to preserve and perpetuate Alaska Native culture.

Join us as special guest Kathleen Meckel addresses the topic of Alaska Native medicinal plants. She will share her knowledge about the types, uses, and harvest of medicinal plants in spring, as well as the importance of preserving and perpetuating this cultural wisdom.

A key sign of spring is migratory birds returning to Alaska. Darrell Hildebrand and Debra Lynne join the series to speak about which birds to look out for in spring and their importance in Alaska Native ways of life.