A scene from the Alaska Federation of Natives annual convention in October 2014. Photo from Facebook
Thousands of Alaska Natives are in Anchorage this week for a series of big meetings and events. The First Alaskans Institute kicked off its 32nd annual Elders and Youth Conference this morning. The theme is "“Not in Our Smokehouse!” aimed at protecting and preserving Native culture. The event runs through Wednesday. The following day, the Alaska Federation of Natives opens its annual convention, which is expected to draw upwards of 5,000 from across the state. “We’re expecting this to be one of our biggest conventions,” President Julie Kitka told Alaska Dispatch News. Every major politician in Alaska is on the agenda for the meeting, which concludes Saturday. The theme is "Heroes in our Homeland," aimed at honor everyday Native community leaders. Get the Story:
Elders & Youth Conference kicks off Monday (KTVA 10/11)
Feds recognize Native names of major Alaska river system (Alaska Dispatch News 10/11)
AFN convention to bring thousands of Natives to Anchorage (Alaska Dispatch News 10/10)
Alaska Native events kick off in Anchorage (The Arctic Sounder 10/9)
AFN and Elder and Youth Conference Preview (Coastal Television 10/5)
Join the Conversation
Related Stories
Raina Thiele: Alaska
Natives share culture with President Obama (10/06) Native village residents could be first climate change refugees (09/07)
Mark Trahant: Telling the story about tribal sovereignty in Alaska (09/04)
President of Alaska Native village highlights threat to community (9/3)
President Barack Obama offers thoughts on historic trip to Alaska (9/3)
Transcript: President Obama speaks in Native village of Kotzebue (9/3)
President Obama enjoys unique welcome in Alaska Native village (9/3)
Gyasi Ross: Obama's checkered record on Native environment (9/3)
President Obama set for visit to Native communities in Alaska (9/2)
Alaska Native students being left behind in their own backyard (9/2)
President Obama meets Native leaders after landing in Alaska (9/1)
Rhonda Pitka: Alaska Natives put priority on subsistence rights (9/1)
Transcript: Obama remarks following Native leaders roundtable (9/1)
94-year-old Alaska Native elder greets Obama with Denali song (9/1)
Politicians in Ohio oppose return of Alaska Native name for peak (9/1)
President Obama restores Alaska Native name of highest peak (8/31)
President Obama to visit Native villages on historic trip to Alaska (8/25)
Alaska governor pursues appeal in landmark land-into-trust case (8/25)
Alaska Natives to welcome President Obama at end of month (8/17)
Alaska Native community still waiting on funding for relocation (2/26)
