This morning we head for Anchorage to visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center. This Raven greets all visitors and is an awesome piece of artwork. The photo below explains:
The performance area features a large map of Alaska colored to reflect the various native tribes. These next pictures show the demonstration we are watching of the games used to increase strength and agility. Once a year the tribes gather for their version of Olympic Games. It is fun and quite interesting to watch and the amount of endurance needed is far more than meets the eye.
Afterward we take a tour of the village. Our guide, William, stops and explains as we move along. There are villages to represent each nation, and representatives from each nation are present to tell a little about their village.
This next photo is of a
birthing bowl. When Europeans came to Alaska, they brought disease for which the natives had no immunity. One solution was the adoption of a birthing bowl. This would be made for the child at birth, and when the child was old enough to eat from a bowl, no one else was allowed to touch it. If the bowl were left outside, for instance, rather than pick up the bowl and bring it to the person, they would simply go find the person and tell them to retrieve it. Literally no one was allowed to touch the bowl except for the owner-user. This was a unique solution that worked.
These parting pictures show dances in celebration for the animals that gave their lives for food and in memory of their elders. The middle picture is a beautiful canoe hanging above the entrance I thought you would enjoy.
For further information:
Alaska Native Heritage Center
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