Day 2 of Our Vacation in Anchorage, Alaska, USA
A Visit to the Alasks Native Heritage Centre, Anchorage
We slept in a little on the second day of our vacation in Anchorage. Because we bought groceries at the local supermarket, we had a proper nutritious first meal of the day with fruits, fruit juice, whole wheat toasts and all that. It was a relaxing start of the day.
The Native Heritage Centre, much bigger than I expected, offered a few interesting programs to visitors.
After paying the admission fee, we were given a map of the Centre including a detail schedule of the programs happening during the day.
This was very helpful as we could decide ahead on which activities we wanted to see during our visit.
We could have spend the whole day at the Alaska Native Heritage Centre. But we had only 1/2 day, therefore, we chose to watch three programs in the Main Hall and and an outdoor tour on site.
1. The first demonstration we saw was the native games at the Gathering Place, the main hall in the building.
There were two gentlemen demonstrating and explaining the native games and what they were doing.
These games have been passed on orally from generation to generation in the indigenous community. Native people would practice very hard and go to competition to show off their athletic abilities and skills.
The native gentleman explained” During these game competitions, participants were not competing against each other but against themselves for their best records.
Therefore, there was no name calling or cursing your mama’s name against the other competitors.”
I really like that! No beating up on the referees because your child didn't make the cut.
2. The second show we watched was by two native teenagers explaining the major different native groups living in Alaska and their customs:
- Athabascan
- Yup'Ik & Cup'Ik,Inupiaq & St. Lawrence Island Yupik
- Unangax & Alutiiq ( Sugpiaq)
- Eyak, Tlingit, Haids & Tsimshian
3. The third program we watched was a group of dancers and their instructor who explained the dances and the meaning of their dance movement and hand gestures.
When we first watched the dancing, it seemed to us that the dancers were doing repetitious movement with the feathers and fur pieces in their hands.
After the explanation, we learned about the various hand movements and the dances meant more to us.
One of the things I noticed was that though their were a lot of hand movements, the dancers hardly moved their feet at all.
In one dance, the male teenage dancer was sitting. We were curious and asked that question.
Most of these dances were done inside native gathering places or homes which could be small and crowded. The dancers had little room to move therefore, they had to limit their movements to their upper bodies only.
Men sometimes had to sit so that they would not block the audience’s view of the dancers behind them.
We had ample time to chat with the dancers afterwards and asked questions.
4. The highlight of our visit was the outdoor tour of the Village Sites.
There were six life sized native houses on the Village Sites.
Visiting these traditional dwellings was like being transported back in time in history.
At each site, our guide shared with us the stories of their people.
She did an excellent job explaining to us about the specific tribe's relationship to the land and how they had adapted over the centuries living in the harsh extreme northern environment.
Our guide was around senior highschool / first year college age, but she was very knowledgeable and articulated.
A proud native Alaskan, our guide was a confident and a great story teller!
We appreciated her great sense of humor and interesting stories about the life and customs of the different indigenous tribes living in the Alaska region.
Alaska is a land of many native people.
We saw all six traditional native dwellings at the Native Heritage Centre representing the eleven major cultural groups in Southeast Alaska.
Many of these traditional houses were built underground to keep the inhabitants warm.
The most interesting experience of this tour was going through the front door of an underground native house with a tiny opening.
The opening was so tiny that we had to couch down to get through. The opening was purposely made as small as possible so that bears would not be able to get inside the homes.
When building the homes, native people would take the biggest person of the household and use his/ her measurement to determine the size of the door opening.
A Visit to the Alasks Native Heritage Centre, Anchorage
 |
| Alaska Native Heritage Centre, Anchorage, Alaska |
 |
| Colourful flags flying high on the grounds of the Centre |
We slept in a little on the second day of our vacation in Anchorage. Because we bought groceries at the local supermarket, we had a proper nutritious first meal of the day with fruits, fruit juice, whole wheat toasts and all that. It was a relaxing start of the day.
The Native Heritage Centre, much bigger than I expected, offered a few interesting programs to visitors.
 |
| Demonstrations & performances are held in the Main Hall, Native Heritage Centre |
After paying the admission fee, we were given a map of the Centre including a detail schedule of the programs happening during the day.
This was very helpful as we could decide ahead on which activities we wanted to see during our visit.
 |
| We watched a native games demonstration. |
We could have spend the whole day at the Alaska Native Heritage Centre. But we had only 1/2 day, therefore, we chose to watch three programs in the Main Hall and and an outdoor tour on site.
1. The first demonstration we saw was the native games at the Gathering Place, the main hall in the building.
There were two gentlemen demonstrating and explaining the native games and what they were doing.
 |
| A native ball kicking game demonstration |
These games have been passed on orally from generation to generation in the indigenous community. Native people would practice very hard and go to competition to show off their athletic abilities and skills.
 |
| A native gentleman explaining the games to us as he performed |
The native gentleman explained” During these game competitions, participants were not competing against each other but against themselves for their best records.
 |
| Native games demand athletic skills & abilities. |
Therefore, there was no name calling or cursing your mama’s name against the other competitors.”
I really like that! No beating up on the referees because your child didn't make the cut.
2. The second show we watched was by two native teenagers explaining the major different native groups living in Alaska and their customs:
- Athabascan
- Yup'Ik & Cup'Ik,Inupiaq & St. Lawrence Island Yupik
- Unangax & Alutiiq ( Sugpiaq)
- Eyak, Tlingit, Haids & Tsimshian
 |
| Native dances involve mostly hand gestures and upper body movements |
3. The third program we watched was a group of dancers and their instructor who explained the dances and the meaning of their dance movement and hand gestures.
 |
| The hand gestures tell the meaning of the song and story |
When we first watched the dancing, it seemed to us that the dancers were doing repetitious movement with the feathers and fur pieces in their hands.
After the explanation, we learned about the various hand movements and the dances meant more to us.
 |
| Due to limited space in native homes, male dancers sit while performing |
In one dance, the male teenage dancer was sitting. We were curious and asked that question.
Most of these dances were done inside native gathering places or homes which could be small and crowded. The dancers had little room to move therefore, they had to limit their movements to their upper bodies only.
Men sometimes had to sit so that they would not block the audience’s view of the dancers behind them.
 |
| The Centre allowed time for visitors to interact with staff members |
We had ample time to chat with the dancers afterwards and asked questions.
 |
| Many of the traditional native houses were built underground. |
4. The highlight of our visit was the outdoor tour of the Village Sites.
 |
| A traditional Athabascan house at the Alaska Native Heritage Centre , Anchorage |
There were six life sized native houses on the Village Sites.
Visiting these traditional dwellings was like being transported back in time in history.
 |
| The Native Heritage Centre guide was knowledgeable & humorous. |
She did an excellent job explaining to us about the specific tribe's relationship to the land and how they had adapted over the centuries living in the harsh extreme northern environment.
Our guide was around senior highschool / first year college age, but she was very knowledgeable and articulated.
A proud native Alaskan, our guide was a confident and a great story teller!
We appreciated her great sense of humor and interesting stories about the life and customs of the different indigenous tribes living in the Alaska region.
Alaska is a land of many native people.
We saw all six traditional native dwellings at the Native Heritage Centre representing the eleven major cultural groups in Southeast Alaska.
Many of these traditional houses were built underground to keep the inhabitants warm.
 |
| We saw a traditional native house with a very tiny opening as entrance. |
The most interesting experience of this tour was going through the front door of an underground native house with a tiny opening.
 |
| We had to couch down in order to fit into the door opening |
The opening was so tiny that we had to couch down to get through. The opening was purposely made as small as possible so that bears would not be able to get inside the homes.
When building the homes, native people would take the biggest person of the household and use his/ her measurement to determine the size of the door opening.
We had a great time at the Alaska Native Heritage Centre. It is a must see when you are visiting Anchorage.
The tour of the Village Site was an interesting and educational tour indeed!
The tour of the Village Site was an interesting and educational tour indeed!
It was my husband's birthday today. J. picked the Brewhouse Restaurant,
a popular local and tourist place in downtown Anchorage. He treated us to a
dinner there to celebrate his birthday. The restaurant was busy and we waited
for almost 30 minutes before our turn for dinner. The dinner was good and it was wonderful celebrating a special occasion with our son!
R.T.
Alaska Native Heritage Centre
Anchorage, Alaska
R.T.
Alaska Native Heritage Centre
Anchorage, Alaska
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