News

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 and as its chair since 2011, will cede her seat to the noted Tlingit glass artist Preston Singletary. Marlene has ... read more

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 the lectures, guest speakers focus on the challenges faced by language students learning Lingít (Tlingit), X̱aad Kíl (Haida) and Sm'algyax (Tsimshian). The series, Strengthening ... read more

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 Trip Into the Surprising Reproductive Life of Seaweeds, Dr. Schery Umanzor will delve into the intricacies of their reproductive life ... read more

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. This will be conducted in an Oceans and Human Health context, or One Health. In his lecture, Coastal Community One Health: ... read more

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 proposed amendments to the Indian Arts and Crafts Act (IACA), a truth-in-advertising law that prohibits misrepresentation in the marketing of ... read more

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 is unique to Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian cultures, and it entails a very specific series of activities to maintain social ... read more

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 use by interested public and tribal libraries across Alaska and the nation. The two-year program, Raven Reads at the Library, ... read more

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. The honor was given to Tlingit, Athabascan and Aquinnah Wampanoag student Jade Araujo, who has held numerous leadership roles during ... read more

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, Community of Practice (CoP), will offer a safe space for educators to get support, share new ideas and best practices ... read more