Alaska Native elders and youth gather in Anchorage to pass on culture in a changing world

Alaska Native elders and young people are spending four days together in downtown Anchorage this week. They are trading stories and skills and talking about how to hold on to their cultures while the land around them changes. The 43rd annual Statewide Elders and Youth Conference opened Sunday at the Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center and runs through Wednesday.

This year's theme comes from Denaakk'e, the Koyukon Athabascan language. In English it means "We are approaching change." Hosts say it speaks to shifting weather, rivers, traditional foods and ways of life across Alaska.

Opening day

The gathering opened with a traditional Warming of the Hands, a prayer and performances by several Alaska Native dance groups. Auditions were also held for Natives Got Talent ahead of a Monday night showcase.

Monday's schedule included a keynote address from Emil Notti, a Koyukon Athabascan leader who served as the first president of the Alaska Federation of Natives. The day also included a Koyukon language panel, regional breakout sessions and a discussion on co-management of land and wildlife.

The opening day also included a screening of "Niqipiaq: To Eat Real Food," a 26-minute documentary by Iñupiaq filmmaker Alexis Anoruk Sallee. It follows Arctic families and hunters as they harvest, prepare and share traditional foods. It also looks at how climate change and new diets are putting pressure on those practices.

More young people this year

Dennis Andrews Sr. said he is seeing more youth at the conference than in past years. He said storms like Typhoon Halong show why passing down traditional know-how matters more than ever. He urged young people to put their phones down, pull on warm boots and go pick berries or fish.

Crystal Dushkin, who came from Atka in the Aleutian Islands, said her island was not hit directly by the typhoon but still felt its effects. She said it is vital for young people to speak up and learn their culture.

Alicia Munoz, a student at West Anchorage School, said she learned about cultural objects lost in the typhoon. She said hearing stories told aloud helps keep them safe even when the objects themselves are gone.

Workshops and cultural activities continue through Wednesday. The conference leads into the Alaska Federation of Natives convention, also in Anchorage.