ALASKA NATIVE HERITAGE CENTER

Our travels didn't take us very far today. The Alaska Native Heritage Center happens to be just outside the side gate of Elmendorf AFB, which is right outside of Anchorage, where we have settled for a few days. Actually we went by it because they are doing construction in the area and the signs had been removed. We got about a half mile past when we stopped and asked for directions and found that we had missed it.

This was another coupon in the Tour Saver Book we had purchased so it was a 2 for 1 again. The price was $23.50 but we spent most of the day, watching their dance programs, having a guided tour around the buildings and grounds and watching films in the theatre. We had an excellent guide. He had actually been born in Germany so his knowledge was learned rather than having been lived. He was well spoken and did a great job. Most of the Native Alaskans were gatherers but along the coast fish, seals and whales were a big part of their life. The Natives that lived inland were also gatherers but depended on things like the moose, bear and carabou for their livelihood.

There were 22 languages in Alaska with over 200 dialects which made it a difficult process to communicate. There was no written language until missionaries visited in the 19th century. We have included a picture of the performers dancing. The man by the microphone was doing most of the singing which is more of a chant. He also holds one of their drums. A very different drum from any we had ever seen. They not only played the top of the drum but also the edges from below.

Because of a cultural exchange program they also had guest dancers from Mexico. Their costumes were very colorful.

A beautiful scaled down model of a canoe hangs from the ceiling. It is made of walrus hide, sewn and tarred at the seams.

The next picture is our guide. Behind him was the community building and the carvers building. The supports for the building were all taken from one tree. The open building was the carvers shed.

Following that is a whale skeleton followed by the jaw bones of a whale. They used these in this kind of formation at the entrance of their village to enable the people to find their way home. From the next picture you can see why they were needed. The openings into their homes were very small. Most of the home was underground with only a small mound above. He told us that they set snares around their skylight to stop bears from trying to enter through them. The skylight was covered with some part of the seal, either the bladder or the stomach. We don't remember which.

The last three items were not old items but were in the crafts section. The bowl is made of birch bark, the one with diamond shapes was made from bark, split willow, spruce and thread. The final one is a ceremonial mask.

Today's weather sort of cooperated. It didn't rain until we were through with the outside tour. We ate lunch at the facility...we shared a lunch special of halibut.