April signals the beginning of spring here in Alaska. For many Alaska Natives that means time to start preparing for summer activities, like making and mending fishnets and beginning to hunt small game such as muskrat. Spring is also a time of renewal. In this talk our guests, Jessica Black and Tristan Madros, discuss how younger generations are renewing Alaska Native traditions, including seasonal lifeways. Jessica Black is Gwich’in Dena from the villages of Gwichyaa Zhee (Ft. Yukon) and Toghotthele (Nenana), Alaska. She teaches at UAF and frequently returns to the village to hunt, fish, gather, and engage in other important cultural practices. Tristan is an artist, Indigenous knowledge practitioner, and teacher. At 20 years old he became Chief of Kaltag.
This episode, “Springing Out – Next Generations Prepare for a New Season” aired live on April 20th at 6pm. Please join us for the program at www.morristhompsoncenter.org/live/ and learn about Alaska Native seasonal preparations and how Native adults and youth carry their traditions and values into the future. This event is part of Denakkanaaga’s “Our People Speak” online speaker program series. Each monthly program features respected elders and other leaders from the Native community, and centers around seasonal themes that highlight aspects of traditional Alaska Native culture. Please visit us at www.morristhompsoncenter.org/live to view upcoming and past programs and to sign up for updates about future cultural programs. For more information about this series and other programs hosted by Denakkanaaga, please visit www.denakkanaaga.org. These programs are proudly brought to you through a partnership between Denakkanaaga, Tanana Chiefs Conference, and the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center with generous support from Doyon, Limited.