A scene from an Alaska Day Festival. Photo from Facebook

A representative of the Sitka Tribe called on the organizers of a festival to apologize for scheduling a "slave auction" at an event that is supposed to promote cultural diversity.

General manager Lawrence SpottedBird told the Associated Press that the name of the fundraiser was offensive. He supported the Anchorage NAACP Chapter, whose president objected to the name.

"I stand with them," SpottedBird told the AP. "There should be basically an apology for using that term."

Organizers of the Alaska Day Festival changed the name of the fundraiser, which was held Sunday night, but not without complaints. The event's chairman tried to defend the name by pointing out that Alaska Natives were once enslaved.

"You don't hear them yelling," Ted Allio told the AP.

The bartender who organized the fundraiser also wasn't happy with the negative attention.

“Tell them to stick their nose back in their own business and leave us alone,” Rita Ledbetter told Alaska Dispatch News when informed of the NAACP's objections.

The Alaska Day Festival commemorates the transfer of Alaska from Russian to American control on October 18, 1867. The event "celebrates the diversity of cultures and historical perspectives of our people," according to its website.

Get the Story:
NAACP criticizes Alaska Day 'slave auction' fundraiser in Sitka (AP 10/19)
Sitka 'slave auction' organizers to change name of Alaska Day event (Alaska Dispatch News 10/19)
Anchorage NAACP calls for Sitka bar to change name of 'slave auction' event (Alaska Dispatch News 10/18)