Heritage Highlights eNews

Yak’éi yee x̱wsateeni – It’s good to see you!

Make sure to visit GHF's website, Facebook page, and Instagram daily for the latest news and program updates.

GHF Launches New Indigenous Education Website

GHF was pleased to launch this month the Haa Shuká Tundatáani (HST) website which contains multiple educational resources. Haa Shuká Tundatáani means "our ancestors' ways of thinking, learning, and knowing."

HST is a one-stop shop for indigenous education in Southeast Alaska. The website is expected to grow each month as additional resources, lessons, and post-secondary pathways are added.

"We are very excited about this new website that has been designed to center around shuká, " said GHF Executive Director Desiree Jackson. "Shuká, refers to the timelessness of our ancestors which GHF's learning practices and philosophies center around. This is to instill a sense of purpose in the learning of all students while letting them know that they have a place in the classroom and in the community."

CLICK HERE to visit the HST website or go to https://hstlearning.org.

GHF Partners with T&H and Cedar Group for Kuhaantí

Goldbelt Heritage Foundation in partnership with Tlingit & Haida and Cedar Group, joined together to produce "Kuhaantí", a groundbreaking children's book written entirely in Tlingit without English translations. As part of the project, an animated cartoon of the book was also created which is available to view on the GHF Atlas Curriculum Portal.

The project began over 10 years ago with Lingít Shkalneegí Haa Yátx’i Kagéiyi Yís, a collaborative collection of stories as part of Tlingit & Haida’s Head Start program and translated into Tlingit by GHF with support from Sitka Tribe of Alaska and Teslin Tlingit Council.

The book tells the story of the orphan Sahaan as she journeys through difficult times and learns life lessons that teach her the importance of the tribal value of respect. It was illustrated by Kelsey Mata Foote and G̲at X̲wéech Nick Alan Foote.

Tribal citizens who have children between the ages of 0-7 can sign up online to receive a free copy of the book by CLICKING HERE or going to www.tinyurl.com/KuhaantiFreeBook

GHF Awarded Nearly $5M in New Grant Funding

GHF was pleased to receive notification that we have been awarded two new grants. Native Connections-Tribal Behavioral Health awarded GHF $1.25 million to support Hél daa sá a yáanáx̱ x̱ʼadudlitseen haa yátxʼi - Nothing is More Cherished Than Our Children, a Tlingit Cultural Identity Development for Emotional Well-Being and Suicide Risk Reduction initiative serving Alaska Native Youth ages 7-19

Demonstration Grants for Indian Children and Youth Programs awarded $2.3 million to Has du jeedé gax̱tootée, haa dachx̱ánx̱siteeyi aa -We Will Hand it to Those Who Are Our Grandchildren to support the development of culturally-responsive education and professional development to educators over a 60-month period.

In response to GHF's application, one grant reviewer stated, “The applicant makes a powerful connection between language and cultural diversity, social cohesion, the transmission of valuable knowledge, and personal and community identity. The preservation of language is critical to the cultural preservation of this tribe and all tribes.”

GHF Interns Attend Elders & Youth

GHF’s was pleased to take Aan Yatx’u Saani Interns Ariilana Shodda-Lee, Jossline Jackson, Nicolas Hope, Angel Jackson, Neilson Nelson, Mariah Kadinger, and Alexa Jackson to the Elders & Youth Conference held in Anchorage on October 15-18!

At the conference, Ariilana was elected to serve as an Elders & Youth Southeast Representative for 2024!

GHF was pleased to partner with the Alaska Native Heritage Center to offer a Cedar Weaving class. The class was held on October 9-12, in Anchorage and was led by Master Weaver Judy Helgesen. (Photo left) Weaving students with their weaved hats.

Upcoming Workshops & Events*

Seaweed Design Beading, Nov. 4, 11, 18 & Dec. 2, 16, 17, Anchorage.

Moccasin Making for Youth, Nov. 8-12, Juneau.

Roc Your Mocs Event, Nov. 17, Juneau.

Weaving Workshop-Smartphone Bag, Nov. 11-16 & 18-19, Juneau.

Beaded Applique, Nov. 27, 29 & Dec. 4, 6, 8, 11, 13, Juneau.

*Schedule subject to change. Check the GHF website for the most current information. Register for classes on the MyGoldbelt Heritage Portal. Please note that registration for some classes may be closed.

Welcome Aboard!

GHF would like to welcome the following new employees to the GHF team:

Eva Marks, Education Curriculum Specialist
Nina Edwards, Youth Program Coordinator
Ralphenia Dybdahl, Finance Coordinator

Nina Edwards