Tanana Chiefs Conference has hired Gwich’in Athabascan Dixie Alexander as Director of Cultural Programs at the Morris Thompson Center. Dixie, one of 12 children, was raised in Ft. Yukon in a traditional lifestyle. She is a successful businesswoman, artist, and teacher. She spent more than 20 summers sharing her Athabascan culture with tourists at the Riverboat Discovery’s native village. Her traditional artwork can be found in collections worldwide, including the UA Museum of the North and the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.
Dixie was a key advisor in planning and creating the Center’s exhibits. “Dixie’s deep knowledge and passion for sharing Athabascan art and culture with everyone she meets makes her uniquely suited for this essential position.” Said lead exhibit designer Bianca Message, President, André & Associates. “ Dixie’s contribution helped provide crucial insights into the development of both the storyline and the exhibits.”
“Big’s place needs to be a place where you see Alaska native people,” said Alexander. “ Elders, dancers, storytellers, bead workers, skin sewers, carvers, basket makers, moose skin tanners, doll makers…all demonstrating their craft, learning from each other, teaching an appreciation for our way of life. It’s my dream to bring a vibrant program to life and to help make my fellow Athabascans proud of the investment TCC has made in the Morris Thompson Center.”