WHO WE ARE
Sealaska Heritage Institute is a private nonprofit founded in 1980 to perpetuate and enhance the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian cultures of Southeast Alaska. Its goal is to promote cultural diversity and cross-cultural understanding through public services and events. Sealaska Heritage also conducts scientific and public policy research that promotes Alaska Native arts, cultures, history, and education statewide. The institute is governed by a Board of Trustees and guided by a Council of Traditional Scholars, a Native Artist Committee, and a Southeast Regional Language Committee.
We offer numerous programs promoting Southeast Alaskan Native culture, including language and art. We maintain a substantial archive of Southeast Alaskan Native ethnographic material. We partner with local schools to promote academics and cultural education. Biennially, we produce Celebration, Alaska’s second-largest Native gathering. We own and operate the Sealaska Heritage Store and curate an ongoing cultural exhibit on the first floor of our headquarters in Juneau’s landmark Walter Soboleff Building.
OUR FOUNDING
Sealaska Heritage was founded in 1980 by Sealaska after being conceived by clan leaders, traditional scholars and elders at the first Sealaska Elders Conference. During that meeting, the Elders likened Native culture to a blanket. They told the new leaders that their hands were growing weary of holding onto the metaphorical blanket, this “container of wisdom.” They said they were transferring this responsibility to Sealaska, the regional Native corporation serving Southeast Alaska. In response, Sealaska founded Sealaska Heritage to operate cultural and educational programs. The late George Davis (Kichnáalx—Lk’aanaaw) of Angoon spoke these memorable words:
“We don’t want what you did here to only echo in the air, how our grandfathers used to do things… Yes. You have unwrapped it for us. That is why we will open again this container of wisdom left in our care.”
Sealaska Heritage is governed by a Board of Trustees and guided by a Council of Traditional Scholars and a Native Artist Committee.
LATEST NEWS
SHI’S LONGTIME CHAIR STEPS DOWN, INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED ARTIST TO TAKE HER SEAT
Board names Haida trustee as chair Sealaska Heritage Institute’s (SHI) longtime chair is retiring from its board of trustees. Tlingit leader Slath Jaa Klaa Lákooti (Marlene Johnson), who has served on SHI’s board since 1990 ... read more
SHI EXPANDS LANGUAGE LECTURE SERIES ON SOUTHEAST NATIVE LANGUAGES, STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNITY
Free event to be offered in-person, virtually April 31, 2023 (Watch Previous Lectures) Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) has expanded its free lecture series on Southeast Alaska Native languages to include additional talks in September. In ... read more
SHI TO SPONSOR LECTURE ON THE REPRODUCTIVE LIFE OF SEAWEEDS
Free event to be offered in-person, virtually Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) will sponsor a lecture this week on the unique and fascinating way seaweeds reproduce that sets them apart from plants. In her lecture, A Short ... read more
SHI TO SPONSOR LECTURE ON EXPOSURE TO MERCURY IN HUMANS, POTENTIAL EFFECTS IN SELECT MARINE MAMMALS
Free event to be offered in-person, virtually Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) will sponsor a lecture next week on the approaches to assessing exposure of humans to mercury, and exposure and potential effects in select marine mammals. ... read more
SHI, IAIA URGE FEDERAL PANEL TO HOLD OFF ON PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO ARTS AND CRAFTS ACT
Testimony heard in last of a nationwide series of consultations with Indigenous people Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) and the Institute of American Indian Art (IAIA) are urging the federal government to hold off on implementing ... read more
SHI’S COUNCIL OF TRADITIONAL SCHOLARS TO HOLD WORKSHOP ON CULTURAL MEMORIAL CEREMONY
In-person and virtual event open to tribal members Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) will host a cultural training on memorial ceremonies this month led by its Council of Traditional Scholars. The Southeast Alaska Native mortuary complex ... read more
SHI TO EXPAND LIBRARY PROGRAMMING FOR CHILDREN
Move stems from successful demonstration project pioneered in 2022 Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI), in partnership with a consortium of libraries, associations and educators, is launching a new program to develop culturally-relevant programming for children for ... read more
STANFORD STUDENT WINS 2023 JUDSON BROWN SCHOLARSHIP
Program honors students with academic achievement, leadership skills Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) has chosen a Stanford student who aims to become a tribal lawyer as this year’s recipient of its Judson L. Brown Leadership Award. ... read more
SHI TO OFFER COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE PROGRAM TO SUPPORT ALASKA NATIVE TEACHERS
Project part of larger effort to cultivate, elevate and retain educators (Apply) (Flyer) Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) is recruiting Alaska Native educators statewide for a new program aimed at supporting and retaining teachers. The program, ... read more
UPCOMING EVENTS
LET’S WORK TOGETHER
SHI is raising funds for the project, which will cost an estimated $14 million to construct. We are offering a wide range of donor levels and benefits.
SHI is raising funds for the project, which will cost an estimated $14 million to construct. We are offering a wide range of donor levels and benefits.
