Alaska Day 42 - Native Heritage Center

Today we spent the day at the Alaska Native Heritage Center. The Center is located just outside of Anchorage on several acres surrounding a lake.  It was very interesting to see the cultures of Alaska's native people. We got the chance to observe their songs and dances and many of there other customs and cultures.  Some of the natives were from islands that have no trees and very few other shrubs. They depend on the driftwood that comes from the many rivers that flow in the bays and ocean.  The driftwood is used to build their homes, cook with, keep warm and build tools.  Its hard to believe how they can live in some of these remote places and survive through the winters they have up here.  

The Alaska Native Heritage Center is a premier cultural center sharing the rich heritage of Alaska’s 11 major cultural groups. We were able to experience Alaska's native culture first-hand through engaging storytelling, authentic native song and dance, artist demonstrations, native games demonstrations and more. We had unique opportunities to interact and participate to create an enlightening educational experience.  

A lot of the homes were built underground for protection from wild animals and the weather.

Another view of the entrance to a home












These were buildings they built to store their food to keep the food safe from animals.  They are referred to as food caches.

Linda leaning against a whale bone. See all the flowers in the background... She knows how to find the flowers.  However, here at the Heritage Center they were everywhere.

Flowers at the village












We are in one of the village houses...  notice the rack and furs

I think they fit?  They are heavy and I just can't get comfortable.  Maybe I should try rolling over, on second thought...

One of the Native girls showing a seal bladder which the natives used to hold water.

We took a guided tour of the village and really enjoyed all the history and how the different groups lived and still live in parts of Alaska.  The two young ladies on the right were our tour guides. The mask being held up was made and worn by a hunter to show off his skills and impress a future mate. Our guide commented that since this mask was rather plain he probably was not a very successful hunter therefor she would not choose him!

We really enjoyed another part of their culture, their songs and dance.

Another dance performance












Still today many Alaskans use dogs and sleds as there means of travel in the winter.  This was a typical pen of how the natives kept their dogs when not working.  I think they must have ordered the name signs for the dogs.  They look just like the ones we saw being sold at the craft market.







Sled dog puppies... I wanted to take Gypsy one so bad... But Linda said NO, it doesn't matter how cute they are!










After a day at the village there was still plenty of daylight left, there always is, so what do you do when you have a little time to kill... find something to eat?  We found Peggy's who like the Lucky Wishbone also has great food and pies at good prices.  Hence, our two favorite places so far... the Lucky Wishbone and Peggy's.  If you watched the Sara Palin series on Alaska, Peggy's is the restaurant that Sara helped make the pies and help wait tables.