Sophia Tetoff is the first Alaska Native student buried at the former Carlisle school in Pennsylvania to return to Alaska. Tetoff’s relative, and other advocates, hope her story inspires others to seek the return of their ancestors.
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For Gwich’in artist Colleen Firmin Thomas, abstract painting helps ‘to process the world’
Her work intertwines traditional painting methods with porcupine quills, fur and feathers to showcase different intricacies in nature, the life around her and her own life experiences.
Unangax̂ educators will teach Unangam Tunuu language class at University of Alaska Anchorage
The course will be one of several Alaska Native language courses offered at the university through its Alaska Native Studies program.
Remains of Alaska Native student buried at Pennsylvania boarding school will return to Pribilofs
Beginning June 19, the U.S Army will begin the process to return the remains of 10 Native students buried at the Carlisle school.
After 77 years buried in unmarked grave, Unangax̂ WWII soldier will receive grave marker
For years, a small American flag was all that marked the grave of George Fox. Now, his resting place will finally be recognized.
131-year-old fish plant, other Alaska sites to be considered for national historical places registry
Alaska’s longest-running fish plant facility, the Diamond NN Cannery, is among the nominations for the Alaska Historical Commission to consider passing on to the National Register of Historic Places.
Digitizing Native museum collections and the future of repatriating sacred objects
The Alutiiq Museum, which is based in Kodiak, will begin to digitize its collection with the eventual goal of expanding and digitizing collections from other museums. Museum collections curator Amanda Lancaster says they’re already using a database and have most of their objects catalogued. “We use a database called Collective Access…. So, we already have…
Colonization’s dark history puts undue burden on Tribes seeking repatriation of remains, objects
One criticism of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act is that it puts a huge burden of proof on Tribes.
Tribes, Native organizations push back at institutions reluctant to help with repatriation efforts
The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act — NAGPRA for short — gave Tribes a legal avenue to pursue the return of remains and some funerary objects.
Lawsuit challenging Indian Child Welfare Act remains a case to watch for Alaska legal experts, despite split decision in federal court
What is now Brackeen v. Haaland began in 2018 as a lawsuit in Texas that challenges ICWA. The lawsuit says the federal law discriminates against non-Native families looking to adopt.