Enjoying Arts and Dances at the Alaska Native Medical Centre, Anchorage, Alaska

We visited the Alaska Native Medical Centre in Anchorage

While visiting Alaska, we have learned a lot about this American state and its native people inhabiting in this region.

ANMC - A beautiful non profit medical facility in Alaska!

We enjoyed talking to the local people asking them for advice of what to see and where to visit.





















One of the places recommended to us was the Alaska Native Medical Centre.

Entrance to the Alaska Native Medical Centre

This local American native person informed us that the Alaska Native Medical Centre was more than just a health centre.

Sculptures hanging from the ceiling of the entrance

It is a centre full of arts and sculptures related to native cultures and traditions.

Native arts adorned the walls of the Alaska Native  Medical Centre

He told us that it was worth a visit just to see the art.

















Being interested in multicultural arts and traditions, we went to visit the Alaska Native Medical Centre.

































We were not disappointed at all!

It was full of native arts and sculptures the moment we stepped into the centre starting right at the entrance.














There were sculptures depicting the way of life of the indigenous people living in the north such as this sculpture telling the story of a walrus hunt.

The Alaska Native Medical Centre provides medical service to about 150,000 Alaska Native Americans.

This 160 bed hospital achieved the Magnet Status of nursing excellence.

A beautiful Gift Shop selling native arts and souvenirs at the ANMC.

The Magnet Status is a status  achieved by only 7% of all the hospitals in the USA.


















Opened in 1997, the building's construction was supervised by Native Alaskan Leaders.















These leaders sought the integration of Native traditional material, finishes, crafts and art displays inside the building.

Their involvement and thoughtfulness of the native arts and cultures were evident throughout the medical building.

We marveled at and appreciated  the beauty and spirit represented by the variety of art displays.






















 The Alaska native Medical Centre is a beautiful and well equipped facility.

We visited the food court and the outdoor patio on the main floor.
















 We enjoyed our refreshments in the nice courtyard.

Containers of bright colour flowers were placed on every table in the courtyard.

Waiting area at the Alaska Native Medical Cenre

Our most favourite part of the Alaska Native Medical Centre was the spacious waiting area.

It was built in the shape of a traditional native dwelling.

A group of dancers practices their dancing at the Medical Centre every Wednesday evening.

Patients and visitors joined in the dancing.

Every Wednesday evening, a group of Native dancers practices dancing in the waiting area to cheer up the patients there.




What a fantastic idea!

Everyone seemed to enjoy the song and dance, including us!

We learned about this Wednesday dance practices from our conversation with a local native person a couple of days ago.

Therefore, we went there to catch this free performance. Everyone, including us, were enjoying this wonderful  celebration of song and dance at the medical centre.

Our first such experience at a hospital!

We were glad that we went to the Medical Centre. It was like visiting a museum of native arts! Totally enjoyed it!


R.T.
Alaska Native Medical Centre
Anchorage, USA