Land Acknowledgements Panel Discussion

FAIRBANKS, AK – On Friday, February 22 at 6:30 pm at the Morris Thompson Center a group of local organizations will kick off a year-long series of programs about Alaska Native languages. Denakkanaaga, Doyon Foundation, the Morris Thompson Center, Tanana Chiefs Conference Cultural Programs, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Alaska Native Language Center are collaborating on this series of free community events inspired by, but not directly affiliated with, UNESCO’s International Year of Indigenous Languages 2019.  The series will include brief, enjoyable introductions to languages, community conversations, films, and storytelling.

 

Friday’s kick-off event is a panel discussion of Land Acknowledgements, the practice of verbally recognizing the indigenous people of a place.  We will discuss this practice, which has gained currency in Canada and is becoming more popular here in Alaska, as a springboard to explore the ways we encounter Alaska Native language in our daily lives and in public places, sometimes without even knowing it.  Guests will be able to listen to a panel discussion followed by Q&A with speakers including Denakkanaaga First Chief Luke Titus and Second Chief Anna Frank, Walkie Charles, Hishinlai’ Peter, and Ronald Brower Sr. 

 

Additional information about this and future events may be found at  www.morristhompsoncenter.org  . Learn more about UNESCO’s International Year of Indigenous Languages at  https://en.iyil2019.org/  .

 

The Morris Thompson Center encourages visitors and residents to learn about and explore Interior Alaska: the facility is open daily to the public and offers an interpretive exhibit, an auditorium, ample space for parking, meeting rooms, and informal gathering places.  Space within the center can be reserved for use by Interior Alaska community members and organizations.

 

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For more information, contact Sara Harriger at (907) 459-3701 or  sara@morristhompsoncenter.org