Urban Unangax^ Culture Camp

Urban Unangax^ Culture Camp

Day 6, Wednesday

 Wednesday, 12:30 a.m. the sun has set but the light is still there.

 Taxi fleet in the parking lot of the Best Western.  Apparently a lot of people here use their services.

 At lunch we run over to the Alaska Native Medical Center.  John wants to shop for some ivory nicknacks but finds nothing he wants.  I take pictures in the hall.  Lots of nice stuff there.

 An example of some fine skin sewing.  Gut skin parka.  Waterproof.  The Aleuts/Unangan wore these day in and day out.  One or two needed a year.

 Detail of stitching and decorations.

 Sleeves

 Closeup of the hood with draw-string.

 Paul has finished his frame. 

 And horizontal.

 Near the end of the day, a moose browses behind the tents.

2011 Urban Unangax^ Culture Camp in Anchorage - Update

Just a few photos from this year's culture camp.  Just finished up yesterday.  Days have been long.  9 am to 9 pm. Trying to catch up on sleep now.

 Working backwards here from the last day.  Potluck at lunch time.  Clockwise from left - smoked salmon, stewed seal, dried salmon, berries in seal oil, pasta salad, lettuce salad, salmon pie, potato salad.

 Here's how you eat dried salmon, sort of.  Normally, you dip it in seal oil, but lacking seal oil, you make a sort of a layer cake of seal, seal fat and salmon.

 Meanwhile, back at the kayak shop, kids pretending that they're in kayak jail.

 The very youngest kids did not participate in the kayak building but got a tour of our progress.  Here they are demonstrating the light weight of the kayak by lifting it up.

And then we took all the kayaks out to the Alaska Native Heritage center where the Orthodox priest blessed them with holy water.
More to come

2011 Urban Unangax^ Culture Camp in Anchorage

Should you find yourself in Anchorage during the week of July 7-13 stop by the Urban Unangax^ Culture Camp at the APIA headquarters.  Lots of stuff going on, including Mike Livingston, John Petersen and myself building traditional kayaks. Don't stop by on Sunday because nobody will be there. But any weekday or Saturday we'll be there.

Check out the video for an overview of the doin's.
Check out the APIA Web site for more info on the APIA.
The APIA headquarters is at 1131 East International Airport Rd.
Anchorage Alaska 99518