LUTHERAN QUILTERS – Members of the Quilts for Comfort Group stand between pews draped with some of the 205 quilts they made, in the Sitka Lutheran Church Tuesday. The group made the quilts for five local non-profits and one in Anchorage. The remaining quilts are sent to Lutheran World Relief which distributes them to places around the world in need, such as Ukraine, as part of Personal Care Kits. Pictured are, from left, Helen Cunningham, Kathleen Brandt,Vicki Swanson, Paulla Hardy, Kim Hunter, Linda Swanson and Sue Fleming. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
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March 27
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At 2:10 p.m. a man e [ ... ]
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Daily Sitka Sentinel
Anchorage Shifts Policy On Regalia at Graduation
ANCHORAGE (AP) — Alaska’s largest school district has updated its policy to allow students to wear items expressive of their cultural heritage and identity during graduation.
The policy now allows students within the Anchorage School District to adorn their graduation cap or gown with “traditional objects of tribal regalia or recognized objects of cultural significance.”
The policy change came after some families found the previous policy of seeking approval to wear traditional regalia insulting, the Anchorage Daily News reported.
“It is completely inappropriate for there to be anyone in a position of authority to tell Native people when and where we can wear our cultural regalia, in particular around rites of passage,” said Ayyu Qassataq, who is Inupiaq. Her son was one of the students last year who was told they could not wear regalia at graduation.
That situation led to apologies, a suspension of the rule and the updated policy.
Suella Wendell, who is Yup’ik, plans to wear regalia next year at her graduation ceremony at Chugiak High, including a Yup’ik headdress created by an elder from Toksook Bay and mukluks. She a member of the Native Advisory Committee, one of the groups that helped change the policy this year.
“We wanted to get the message across that everyone, including other cultures, are invited to wear their own regalia,” Wendell said.
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20 YEARS AGO
March 2004
Advertisement: Tea-Licious Tea House & Bakery 315 Lincoln Street Grand Opening! Freshly Baked Scones, Cakes & Pastries Innovative Salads, Soups & Sandwiches Harney & Sons Tea. Lunch * Afternoon Tea * Supper.
50 YEARS AGO
March 1974
Photo caption: National Republican Chairman George Bush takes a drink of water offered by Jan Craddick, Sitka delegate, during the Republican convention held here. Mrs. Craddick explained to Bush that the water was from Indian River, which means, according to local legend, that he will return.