“Wells Fargo is thrilled to support the Morris Thompson Center in its mission to celebrate Athabascan culture, promote economic development and foster cultural understanding in the Interior,” said Franz.  “This is an investment in the future of Interior Alaska. We believe we’re only as strong as the communities we serve.”

In 2010, Wells Fargo gave $5,000 directly to support the creation and growth of Alaska Native Cultural programs within the Center. This new gift demonstrates support for the continued growth of these programs that celebrate and preserve the rich Athabascan heritage of Interior Alaska’s first people.

The majority of the Center’s exhibits opened in 2009, however one section was put on hold due to lack of funding. “As a partnership of three non-profit organizations, we’ve taken it slow and moved forward when funding is secure,” said Ridley. “This gift from Wells Fargo is extremely important because it jumpstarts the final effort to complete our exhibits,” said Ridley. According to Ridley, the exhibits that are already installed tell the story of ‘how we live’ in Interior Alaska. The next phase continues that story with a focus on the visitor to Alaska – helping them experience how we live and what we do.

The Wells Fargo donation brings the total raised for the MTCVC project to $29,055,000, with an estimated $200,000 still needed. Construction of the MTCVC facility and Phase I of the exhibits was funded with a combination of federal ($16.7M), state ($7.6M), and private ($4.4M) funds. The project required a small line of credit during the construction phase, but that has been paid off and the Center is now debt free.

More than 100,000 people visited the Center in 2010, and 2011 is keeping pace with last year. According to MTCVC Executive Director, the positive response is overwhelming. “Visitors rave about the friendly staff that help them plan their trip, and Alaskans love the exhibits,” said Schumaker. “It’s music to our ears when a local resident tells us we’ve gotten it right.”

Wells Fargo invested $186,000 in more than 30 nonprofits and schools in Interior Alaska in 2011.  In addition, Wells Fargo team members in Fairbanks pledged $24,000 to local charities during the company’s annual Community Support Campaign in September.  Each year, Wells Fargo invests $1.5 million in more than 280 nonprofits and schools in Alaska.  Wells Fargo’s Alaska team members logged a record 10,100 volunteer hours in 2010.

Calling all young fiddlers! The Young Native Fiddlers have begun their weekly lessons for the 2011-2012 season. Every Saturday (Oct – April) from 11-1pm here at the Morris Thompson Center. Come on down at 11am on Saturday if you are young and want to learn to play. Or if you just want to enjoy the cuteness of kids with fiddles!!

The Morris Thompson Center has delivered more than 100 pounds of fresh, healthy vegetables to the Fairbanks Community Food Bank so far this summer. Facility Manager Jason Faris doubles as a ‘master gardener’ to care for the Center’s flowers and historic garden. “Since the garden sits next to our historic cabin, all our vegetables are ones that were grown in Fairbanks in 1915,” says Faris. “If you didn’t find it here then, you won’t find it in our garden now.”

Kale, lettuce, cabbage, turnips, sage, thyme and potatoes all go to the Food Bank. The beans are held back, however. Dixie Alexander, the cultural program director at the Center, pickles the beans and uses them throughout the year in her ‘Taste of Alaska’ program. Nothing like eating from the garden all year long!

Athabascan beadwork – and a willow root basket – will soon become sidewalk art outside the Morris Thompson Center. Inspired by designs from Athabascan master artists from all over Interior Alaska, the artwork was digitized, enlarged, and translated into glass tile mosaics that are being prepped for installation later this month. Belarde Company out of  Seattle, WA provides a patented process, Lithocrete, which allows for the seeding of small glass tiles in concrete. “The color palette is vibrant enough to do justice to these incredible beadwork designs,” said Cultural Program Director Dixie Alexander. “They look beautiful!” The completed sidewalk mosaics will be 8 ft to 14 ft in diameter.

Designs are inspired by the following artists:

• Lina Demoski/Anvik
• Judy Thomas/Northway
• Mary Simple/Ft. Yukon
• Master Artists working on the Athabascan clothing project for Tanana Chiefs Conference
• Unknown artist from the Tanana area – from a slipper in the UA Museum of the North collection

Brian and Marilyn wed under the Antler Arch

Outgoing News-Miner publisher Marilyn Romano and her longtime beau Brian Hove got married under the Morris Thompson Center’s Antler Arch in late June. Romano was relocating for her new position at Alaska Airlines, and wanted to get married in Fairbanks before moving to Anchorage. “Brian and I met here 13 years ago, so the banks of the Chena River was perfect,” said Romano. “We love the Alaskan feel of the antler arch.”

The Antler Arch Web Cam made it easy to involve her family in Texas on short notice. She called and told them to check out the website, but didn’t tell them why. “They were all surprised and happy to be able to watch us get married on the ‘Antler Cam’ – and the tourists loved it!” said Romano.

If you want to coordinate your own special moment under the arch, tell your family and friends around the world to go to www.morristhompsoncenter.org and click on the Antler Arch link.

Monday – Friday, June – Aug 31 @ 1pm, 3pm and 5pm.
$10/per person, $5/children 10 & under.

Info: Tanana Chiefs Conference Cultural Programs, 907.459-3740, dixie.alexander@tananachiefs.org.

Monday, Tuesday and Saturday, June 6 – August 22 @ 10:30am. Monday tours are outside along the Chena River. Tuesday and Saturday tours are in the exhibits.

Info: Alaska Public Lands Information Center, 907.459-3730.

Watch Alaska Native artists working on traditional art pieces such as beaded gloves and slippers, earrings, necklaces, birch bark and spruce root baskets, and much more. Purchase arts and crafts directly from the artists.

Monday – Friday, June –Aug 31, 1 – 5pm.

Info: Tanana Chiefs Conference Cultural Programs, 907.459.3740, dixie.alexander@tananachiefs.org

Dress the entire family in traditional Athabascan clothing featuring stunning beadwork, moosehide, and wolf, muskrat, wolverine and beaver fur. Take home a family portrait on CD. $65/family, $55/couple, $45/individual

Monday – Friday by appointment. Call Tanana Chiefs Conference Cultural Programs, 907.459-3740, dixie.alexander@tananachiefs.org