Celebration

One of the early events of Celebration 2012 featured the announcement of winners of the juried art competition and unveiling of a month-long exhibit of their work.

The event, which culminated during Wednesday evening’s festivities, is organized and sponsored by the Sealaska Heritage Institute. It’s intended to encourage creation and development of Southeast Alaska Native art forms.

This year, the former categories of traditional and contemporary Native art were replaced by Customary and Customary Inspired Northwest Coast Art.

In the Customary Art category, Archie Cavanaugh won first place with his Eagle Man Mask, Sonya Koenig-Johnson’s Spruce Root Hat came in second, and third place went to Ruby Hughes for her vest titled Woodworm Woman.

In the Customary Inspired Art category, Harmony Hoss won first place for her Beaver Purse, Clarissa Rizal was second for her Argillite Totem, and Shgen DooTan George took third with her Woven Octopus Bag.

Cash prizes of a $1,000, $750, and $500 were awarded to the top three in each category.

Best of show award of $1,500 went to Arthur Nelson for his Raven Bowl.

Jurors included master carver Nathan Jackson who judged Customary Art, and art scholar Peter Corey who judged Customary Inspired Art.

iFriendlyAudio

Thirty-two pieces by 21 artists are on display at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center through the end of June.

We’ll have an in-depth look at some of the art next week on KTOO.

The biennial cultural event begins today (Thursday). It brings together Southeast Alaska Natives from all over the state, the Lower 48 and Canada to share their art, dance and stories. This year the SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) joined with the One People Canoe Society and other canoe teams to paddle to Celebration. The teams also used the stops along the way to raise awareness about suicide prevention.

The first teams left Kake on Saturday for Angoon, where another canoe team joined them. On Monday, a team from Hoonah joined in Funter Bay. They camped along the way, spending Tuesday night at Portland Island for the short paddle yesterday to Juneau’s Auke Recreation Area.

About 90 people made the trip and came from Angoon, Hoonah, Hydaburg, Juneau, Kake, Sitka, and Wrangell. They ranged in age from 10 to 70, and all seemed to relish the traditional mode of travel.

Rosemarie Alexander was at Auke Rec when the canoes paddled to shore, and spoke to observers & paddlers about the significance of the journey.

About 90 Southeast Alaskans are making their way to Celebration 2012 by traditional canoe.

The paddlers range in age from 10 to 70 and come from Wrangell, Hydaburg, Juneau, Sitka, Kake, Angoon and Hoonah.

The Paddle to Celebration journey is expected to arrive at Juneau’s Auke Recreation area about noon on Wednesday.

Boats left from Kake on Saturday, Angoon on Sunday, and Hoonah on Monday.

Norval Nelson, on the F/V Star of the Sea, is operating one of three safety boats accompanying the canoes. He’s backing up a group from Hoonah.

“They traveled through Icy Straits and they crossed Chatham Straits into Funter Bay and reported up there and greeted the rest of the group that showed up from Angoon. They left there Sunday morning, traveled along and stayed the night in a cove called Square Cove and then Monday joined us. We were greeted by a large pod of killer whales,” Nelson says.

He says the weather and seas have mostly cooperated.

Nelson calls it a healthy, spiritual journey, which includes people of Tlingit, Haida, Aleut, Filipino and Norwegian descent.

Celebration is Southeast Alaska’s largest cultural gathering, held in Juneau every two years. It starts Thursday and runs through Saturday.

Every Celebration, a different dance group leads the grand entrance parade into Juneau’s Centennial Hall. Dozens more follow in a procession that fills the street for several blocks and sets the stage for the every-other-year event, which began three decades ago.

Celebration 2012’s grand entrance will be led by the Xudzidaa Kwáan Dancers of Angoon. More than 50 other groups from Alaska, Canada and the Lower-48 will take the stage during the Thursday-through-Saturday event, which is Southeast Alaska’s largest Native cultural gathering.

It’s organized by the Sealaska Heritage Institute, the cultural arm of Southeast’s regional Native corporation.

“Celebration is a time when we come together as Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people to celebrate the survival of our cultures,” said institute president Rosita Worl, in a press release.

But it’s not all about song and dance.

There’s a Native Artists Market, showcasing Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian traditions. The market will be held this year in a new, outdoor venue, with more space for a wider variety of art and contemporary goods.

“We want to be able to accommodate as many Native artists as we can because developing Juneau as a Native art center is one of our long-term goals,” Worl said.

Related events include a pre-celebration artists’ gathering and juried show, plus films, lectures and demonstrations. (See the schedule.)

Then there are the traditional food events, such as the soapberry contest. Cooks from Alaska and the Yukon use hand- and electric-mixers to whip up the frothy treat.

There’s also a dried black seaweed contest, as well as an oyster festival focusing attention on Native-owned shellfish farms.

Other events include a toddler regalia revue, plus workshops on formline design and song-writing.

But for many, it’s all about the singing and dancing, which will bring about 2,000 people to the stage.

Celebration 2012’s theme is “Strengthen Yourself.” It’s spelled Ayanaltseenáa in Tlingit, Án hl is daguyáa in Haida and Lip sha gotgyednshm in Tsimshian.

Up to 7,000 thousand people are expected to attend. For those who can’t, the festivities will be broadcast on 360 North, the cable and internet channel that also broadcasts Gavel Alaska legislative TV coverage.

Schedules and other details are available through the sponsor’s website. There is an entrance fee.

Hear earlier reports and watch slideshows from other Celebrations:

Celebration begins with grand entrance procession

Soapberries whipped up in Celebration contest

Sights and sounds of Celebration