VISIT TO ALASKA NATIVE HERITAGE CENTER - ANCHORAGE, ALASKA

Sleeping in the Anchorage Walmart parking lot is far from the quiet we've become accustomed to but no one is bothering us about staying here even though the sign says no overnight parking.  Well, that's not exactly true.  Actually it says, no unattended overnight parking and that really makes a big difference, doesn't it?

We used our Alaska coupon book for tickets to the Native Heritage Center (another savings of $25). We watched a dance performance, storytelling, an introduction to native cultures, native games, viewed a movie and took the one hour tour.  It was a full afternoon and very informative.  If you'd like to learn more about the Heritage Center CLICK HERE.

Front of Heritage Center

Back of Heritage Center - 26 wooded acres

We visited the village sites of the Athabascan, Yup'ik, Cup'ik, Inupiaq, St Lawrence Island Yupik, Eyak, Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian.  I dare you to pronounce those names?  What I found interesting was that an entire generation (around 1910-1960) of native people were not allowed to speak their language or practice their cultural  traditions.

Traditional dance and drums

They offered dog sled rides for $10 p.p. - those dogs wanted to run

Look closely and you'll see her pups in the house

The houses were not authentic but gave us an idea of how some of the native people lived

I love this photo

I can't remember what each section represents - the top is the chief elder, the box is the box of wisdom, the eagle and raven represent a a loving couple and the bottom is the children (or that's how I remember it)

All the clans agreed on the house posts for respect for culture, self, family and environment

Respect for Culture House Post

That's all folks!  Thanks for stopping in.