Alaska Native

'We Deserve To Feel Safe:' Unangax̂ Activists Speak Up About MMIWG2S

By Kanesia McGlashan-Price • May 10, 2021

Indigenous women in the United States are murdered 10 times more often than the national average, and nearly half of all Alaska Native and Native American women have experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetime, according to the Department of Justice.

Since 2017, May 5 has been recognized as National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-spirit people. The day is often referred to as MMIWG2S or MMIW.

Key Federal Fisheries Advisory Panel Loses Alaska Native Voice

By Maggie Nelson • Apr 10, 2021

Courtesy of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council often flies under the radar, meeting in dimly lit conference rooms and delving into technical questions about fish stocks and ecosystems. But it has a hugely important job: conservation of species and managing offshore fisheries for species like cod, pollock and crab, which are huge economic drivers for coastal communities on the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska.

'We Are On Their Land:' Museum Of The Aleutians Recognizes Indigenous Peoples' Day

By Maggie Nelson • Oct 14, 2020

In honor of Indigenous Peoples' Day, which took place on Monday, admission to Unalaska's Museum of the Aleutians will be free to the public through Saturday.

Museum Director Ginny Hatfield said the museum will also be celebrating the holiday through a social media campaign in an effort to decolonize the nation's history. Museum staff plan to use the campaign as a platform to speak with Indigenous people in the region, as well as Unangax̂ community members.

Unalaska Soon To Be Home To Community Banya

By Maggie Nelson • Oct 8, 2020

Unalaska will soon be home to a community banya, or steam bath. The banya is part of a cultural build project involving the Qawalangin Tribe, Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association (APIA), the Aleut Foundation, and California carpenter and professional iqyax̂ (Aleutian sea kayak) builder Marc Daniels.

Tribe employees involved in the build said they are unsure of when the community will be able to use the banya, or who will have access to it, but eventually, the steam bath will be a communal space for people to share stories, advice, and healing.