The Observer, September 2007
Photo Essay: Tatitlek Cultural Heritage Week
Each year, Tatitlek Cultural Heritage Week takes place at the start of summer, featuring feasts of Native foods and the teaching of traditional skills, songs, and dances. This year was the festival’s 13th.
Council staffer Tamara Byrnes attended to teach the making of fish prints, while board president Patience Andersen Faulkner taught a class on making amulet bags.
Tatitlek is an Alutiiq village of about 120 people. It is about 20 miles southwest of Valdez.
Photos by Tamara Byrnes except as marked.
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Tatitlek’s waterfront is dominated by the community’s picturesque Russian Orthodox Church. |
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These salmon strips were prepared in a class taught by Diane Selanoff and her son Charles. |
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Boy (left) and Simon (right) keep a watchful eye on visitors to the community. |
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Left: Betty McIntosh made and donated this quilt for cultural heritage week. She also taught a class in making kuspuks, or women’s parkas.
Center: Alyeska Pipeline’s Sharon Marchant taught a class in making these dream-catchers. (Photo by Tom Kuckertz)
Bottom: This “Grumman Goose” mask was made by Jim Miller. |
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Sergei Wegner made this amulet bag in a class taught by Patience Andersen Faulkner. |
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Jessica Watson concentrates on her work during a scrimshaw class. |
