Hot Spots: Alaska Native Heritage Center offers cultural experience

July 15, 2010|Megan Baldino

A clan house at the Alaska Native Heritage Center. (Daniel Hernandez/KTUU-DT)

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — When it was built in 1999, the idea was to create a gathering place for all Alaska Natives, but now in its 11th season, the Alaska Native Heritage Center (ANHC) has become so much more.

Just a 10 minute ride from downtown Anchorage, the center sits on a beautiful wooded lot off Muldoon Road in East Anchorage.

When most people come to Alaska, they think Eskimos make up our Alaska Native Culture, but the center says it is working hard to teach people that there are 21different languages and 11 different cultures in the state.

It's quite the learning curve when you only have a few hours to spend at the center.

What the ANHC does best is showcase Alaska Native Culture.

"The ANHC opened in 1999. So it's in its 11th season here and it was originally built to create a gathering place for the Alaska Native community and to share the cultures of the entire state," said Melissa Saunders, director of sales and marketing, ANHC.

Every culture is highlighted at the center, from the Inupiat up north to interior Athabascans to the Tlingit in southeast.

At ANHC you can witness singing, dancing, sewing and authentic head wear and garments.

Ninety-year old Mabel Pike is a master artist who mentors youth at the center.

"If we don't pass on our expertise there's going to be no more. I would gladly do this. I would gladly do it for free," said Pike.

There's even more outside the center.

"This tour that we are starting is a walk around Lake Tiowanna and along the walk you'll see six different village sites that highlight each cultures of Alaska," said cultural interpreter Kyle Roberts.

Master Carver David Boxley and three other groups of carvers have been working on the house posts all summer. House posts are placed in clan houses and are the earliest form of totem poles.

"The theme is respect and each one represents a form of respect. Mine is respect for environment," said Boxley.

"I learned hand movements in dance all mean something and you know, different cultures that we were not aware of," said visitor Pat Haugstatter.

"They do walk in the door thinking there are Eskimos and they live in igloos and they leave knowing there are lots of different cultures," said Saunders.

And that is the whole point.

Contact Megan Baldino at mbaldino@ktuu.com.

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