MOTA

It was a windy winter day on Amaknak Island for the Great Backyard Bird Count on Feb. 15. Megan Dean, local birder and store manager for the Museum of the Aleutians, led a group of Unalaskans along Iliuliuk Harbor in front of the museum.

Some international visitors are halting their summer travel to the United States, including Unalaska, as political tensions between countries rise. The Museum of the Aleutians has already received cancellations from international tourists, ahead of the summer cruise season, which begins in May.

In this episode of “Island Interviews,” Education and Outreach Manager Thomas McLenigan talks about the museum’s Lunch and Learn program in general and discusses Alaska’s whaling history, including subsistence practices in the Aleutians.

In this episode of “Island Interviews,” Collections Manager Joselle Hale explains the label project and highlights the crucial role of community input in developing the new multilingual displays. They also discuss how residents can preserve their own family histories by learning museum-style documentation techniques.

Weaving has been part of Unangax̂ heritage for thousands of years, from large baskets to small ornaments. An exhibit at the Museum of the Aleutians in Unalaska shows the art form’s evolution.

The Museum of the Aleutians in Unalaska has received 22 boxes of archaeological artifacts from the Islands of Four Mountains in the central Aleutian Islands. While some may never be displayed, they remain crucial to understanding Unangax̂ history.

In this episode of "Island Interviews," Museum Director Virginia Hatfield discusses the Udax̂tan dig site and what they hope to accomplish during this year’s excavation.

Hale recently sat down with KUCB's Sofia Stuart-Rasi to discuss their role at the museum, as well as a learning session they’ll be hosting on Saturday at the Unalaska Public Library about smelting iron.

In this episode of “Island Interviews,” Dr. Virginia Hatfield discusses the details of the “Lunch and Learn” program and explains why it is launching in Unalaska.

In this episode of “Island Interviews,” MOTA's Thomas McLenigan and Jenya Anichtchenko shared their thoughts on the fall exhibition and the impact they hope “Family Mosaics” will have on visitors.