Daily Sitka Sentinel

September 19, 2023, Community Happenings

Galanin to Perform

At Aak’w Rock Music

Festival in Juneau

Sitka’s fusion/pop artist Nicholas Galanin will be a headliner at the second biennial Aak’w Rock Festival, a celebration of Indigenous music and culture, Sept. 21-23 in Juneau.

‘‘Galanin is one of the most vital voices in contemporary art,’’ a press release from the festival said. ‘‘Born in Sheet’ka (Sitka) Galanin is Tlingit and Unangax’. He creates from his perspective as an Indigenous man.’’

Ya Tseen is signed by Sub Pop Records.He has collaborations with Seattle hip-hop mavericks Shabazz Palaces, psych-pop crew Portugal. The Man, and futurist rapper Stas THEE Boss.

Presented by the Tlingit & Haida Tribes and the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council, the three-day musical experience features 25 musical acts representing 35 Indigenous cultures from across the globe, honoring music and traditions from around the world.

Áakʼw Rock will feature performances from Indigenous headliners such as Snotty Nose Rez Kids, The Hallucination, Ya Tseen, Khu. eex, Pamyua, as well as singer-songwriters, hip-hop artists, jazz, funk, country and soul, EDM, among many others from limitless genres.

For tickets, full lineup and more information, visit https://aakwrockfest.com/. The Festival honors cultural existence while rocking the stage, organizers said.

Coho Clan

Plans Koo.eex’

The Coho Clan (L’uknax.adi) will hold a potlatch (koo.eex’) planning and practice meeting 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24, at the Mother Coho House, Kaayaashka Hít.

For information, contact Chuck Miller at (907) 738-4025 or Lillian Young at (907) 752-0867.

Parade, Lunch

Sept. 29 Honors

‘Orange Shirt Day’

Sitka Tribe of Alaska invites the community to a parade and lunch Sept. 29 to recognize, respect and honor First Nation/Indigenous children and families affected by the residential school system.

STA and other partners are observing Every Child Matters locally. Parade lineup begins at 11:30 a.m. at the Crescent Harbor shelter. The parade will start at noon, following a route down Lincoln Street, ending at the Sheet’ká Ḵwáan Naa Kahídi, which is constructed on a site that once housed the Indian government school. It will include a short all-ages program and free lunch.

All are invited to participate; wearing an orange shirt is encouraged. For more information go to https://www.alaskachildrenstrust.org/blog/residential-schools-and-healing.

First Nation people in Canada started Orange Shirt Day/Every Child Matters to call attention to the history of Native boarding schools. It is now recognized as a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

‘Sitka Tells Tales’

Event Sept. 19

“Voices On Lincoln Street: An Experiment In Reverse Tourism,” a special edition of Sitka Tells Tales, will be aired 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19, on KCAW.

It is a collaboration of Artchange, Inc. and Raven Radio.

Sport Fisheries

Presentation Set

University of Washington researchers are working with Alaska Department of Fish and Game staff to better understand the costs and benefits of selective sport fisheries for king salmon. 

A presentation will be held 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21, at UAS-Sitka Campus, Room 229, to discuss these findings.

Along the west coast, many sport fisheries for Chinook (king) salmon are managed as selective fisheries, where only marked hatchery fish can be retained. These programs are designed to provide fishing opportunity when wild-origin salmon populations are at low abundance, but implementing a selective fishery is not straightforward. 

‘‘Our presentation will share examples of how selective sport fisheries for marked hatchery salmon have worked in British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon, highlighting both their benefits and challenges,’’ the Alaska Department of Fish and Game said in a press release. ‘‘Following the presentation, we invite you to share your feedback, questions, and ideas about selective fisheries.’’

The conversations will contribute to a study to understand whether a selective sport fishery for king salmon is possible or desired in Southeast Alaska, Fish and Game said.

Indigenous Film

To Show Sept. 20

Alaska Humanities Forum and Alaskan Films will present ‘‘Indigenous Resistance Now and Then’’ 6:30 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Sheet’ka Kwaan Naa Kahidi.

Transportation

Panel to Meet

The Human Services and Transportation Advisory Committee will meet  3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 20, in the Pink Room at Centennial Hall.

Agenda items include considering transportation needs of clients of Sitka’s human and social services agencies, and recommending priorities among possible grant applications to the State of Alaska to address those needs.

The public is invited to attend and may bring up any other public transit concerns.

Online and phone participation via Zoom is available. To attend online, leave a phone message with an email address or a text number for Connie Sipe at 951-202-9716 before noon on Wednesday, Sept. 20. Sipe will return messages and give connection information.