| In downtown Juneau, tourists can see a wall | | | | Fairbanks Alaska is a good launching place for |
| sculpture of Chief Kowee, head of the Auk | | | | learning more about the Alaskan native peoples. |
| Tlingits tribe. In the 1800s, he guided prospectors | | | | The annual Native Arts Festival in February brings |
| Joe Juneau and Rihard Harris to a reservoir of | | | | together artwork, crafts, dance and folklore. In |
| gold along Alaska's southeast Gastineau Channel. | | | | Nome, 54% of the population is comprised of |
| Asking only for Hudson Bay blankets and small | | | | native Eskimos and the main industries are mining |
| compensation, Chief Kowee was a great ally to | | | | and tourism. You can take a polar bear swim, |
| the Europeans and later served in the Alaskan | | | | watch a dog sled race, watch crab fishermen at |
| native police force. | | | | work, pan for gold or buy native Alaskan art. |
| Over the coming years, the town of Juneau | | | | Barrow boasts the world's largest Inupiat Eskimo |
| sprung up and thousands of gold prospectors | | | | settlement, where you'll see how fishing and |
| flooded the Yukon to find their fortune. If you go | | | | hunting are still a way of life, but have been |
| on an Alaskan vacation and take a White Pass | | | | combined with modern conveniences, like |
| train ride, then you can still see the remnants of | | | | snowmobiles and tools. The Heritage Center has |
| historic mines and evidence of optimism and the | | | | been called "a must-see for every visitor." |
| quest for the American dream. | | | | If you visit Barrow in the late winter, then be |
| A good starting point to learn more about | | | | sure to look for the awe-inspiring Northern Lights! |
| Alaska's indigenous people is to visit The Alaska | | | | These are just a few of the native villages, of |
| Native Heritage Center in Anchorage Alaska. This | | | | course. If you are taking an Alaskan cruise or |
| world renowned cultural center and museum | | | | planning a bundled trip, then your travel agent |
| contains information, educational materials, video | | | | should be able to point you in the right direction. |
| presentations, artwork and displays documenting | | | | When visiting Alaska, there are many ways to |
| the following Alaskan native peoples: the | | | | experience the Alaskan native culture. You can |
| Athabascan, the Aleut & Alutiiq, the Yup'ik & | | | | embark upon a seven-night, all-inclusive Holland |
| Cup'ik, the Inupiaq & St. Lawrence Island Yupik, | | | | Cruise, which includes native tour guides, narration |
| the Eyak, the Tlingit, the Haida and the Tsimshian. | | | | and presentations about Inuit life, as well as port |
| Here you can view beaded artwork from the | | | | stops in native villages. |
| Athabascan people, learn about the spirituality of | | | | Or you can choose a day trip to a place like the |
| the Yup'ik and Cup'ik, who believed in good | | | | Saxman native village, the Fairbanks Native Arts |
| shamans for healing and bad shamans who placed | | | | Festival or stop at the Alaska Native Heritage |
| curses on people, or gaze upon the festive Chilkat | | | | Center. Native artwork makes a great memento |
| & raven's tail robe regalia worn at the Eyak | | | | of your once-in-a-lifetime experience in America's |
| potlach festivals. | | | | 49th state. |