upcoming projects & NEW RELEASES
July 5, 2021
Excited to finally see the cover art I did for the Skidegate Haida Immersion Program (S.H.I.P.) in Haida Gwaii! My friend Paula just sent me a picture! I was asked to pick any image from Alaska Haida side and chose this Two- Fin supernatural SGáana from Hydaburg that I photographed a few years ago. I’m currently also working on a fully illustrated book about the first potlatch in Hydaburg that happened a few months later!
==>>> The Skidegate Haida Immersion Program (S.H.I.P.) was founded in 1998, following a ten day extremely popular Skidegate Haida Immersion Summer Session.
==>>> S.H.I.P. has been recording the Skidegate Haida Language, and has produced over 120 instructional CD-ROM's for use at home, in the S.H.I.P. Program, in schools in the community, and Haida's living off island. Within the S.H.I.P. Program there are 10 very committed and dedicated Elders who are fluent speakers of the Skidegate Haida Language. The average age of our Elders is 80 years of age. The Elders attend S.H.I.P. five days a week, ten months of the year. They represent approximately 50% of today's fluent Skidegate Haida speakers. Their efforts to revitalize the Skidegate Haida Language are genuine, and from the heart. Respect for their ancestors, the language, and its many dialects have been of utmost importance.
The goal of the Skidegate Haida Immersion Program is to preserve and revitalize Skidegate Haida Language, and to have it once again become the language spoken in the households of Skidegate and in Haida families living off island, and that future generations of Haida people will be able to speak the Skidegate Haida Language, and pass their language on to their children.
SEALASKA HERITAGE RELEASES FIRST CHILDREN’S BOOK ENTIRELY IN HAIDA LANGUAGE
Book part of the institute’s Baby Raven Reads program
https://www.sealaskaheritage.org/node/1430June 10, 2021)
Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) has released its first-ever children’s book entirely in the Haida language, X̱aad Kíl.
The book, Nang Jáadaa Sg̱áana ‘Láanaa aa Isdáayaan, or The Woman Carried Away by Killer Whales in English, is part of SHI’s award-winning Baby Raven Reads program.The traditional Haida story features a hunter who successfully hunts a sea otter and forgets to thank the otter for its life. When he gifts the otter to his wife, it comes back to life and swims away. She jumps in after it and is captured by the SGaan, the killer whales. An adventurous rescue begins.
“The story is so ancient but we are still telling it today. The power of oral tradition is infinite,” said Janine Gibbons, Haida artist and illustrator of the book.
The Woman Carried Away by Killer Whales was translated by Skíl Jáadei Linda Schrack and Ilskyalas Delores Churchill. After Schrack did a first pass at translating the text, she consulted with esteemed Haida Elder Ilskyalas (Delores Churchill) to review the translation and help with corrections.
“I am forever grateful for her. 'Láa an sáa Hl gudánggang. (I hold her in high esteem),” Schrack said.
Schrack also recorded audio of the text in X̱aad Kíl so readers can hear the Haida language and learn how to read the language themselves. The audio is available on SHI’s YouTube channel.
The English version of the book was published originally in 2017. No new illustrations were created in the new X̱aad Kíl edition, but minor revisions were made to the design of the book. And with the book written entirely in X̱aad Kíl, without the English translation, it is a whole new reading experience to Gibbons.
“I think people will see it in a completely new way,” Gibbons said.
The book is part of an Indigenous language series that translates previous Baby Raven Reads titles that are adaptations of ancient Raven stories and stories based on oral traditions.
April 29, 2021
SEALASKA HERITAGE INSTITUTE,
Stoked! I just got an artist-in-residency for next week with
Sealaska Heritage Institute! More fun historical and educational videos forthcoming!
===>>>> OPPORTUNITY: SHI seeking virtual artists-in-residence<<<<===Sealaska Heritage is seeking virtual artists-in-residence to create 10 short videos (2 live with a SHI host) for SHI's social media channels during a two week residency. Artists will also participate in a live Q & A session and host a live virtual First Friday.
Apply: https://bit.ly/32OClKQ
Compensation of $1,500 for the entire two-week residency to be paid after submission of all the agreed upon videos. Artists may also sell their work through the Sealaska Heritage Store. Plus it's fun!
Watch a previous First Friday interview!: https://www.facebook.com/SHInstitute/videos/393626555321751
April 29, 2021
SITKA LIGHTHOUSE CO. STORE
SITKA, ALASKA
For this 19th year of jewelry making I’ve gotten back into hand stamping silver with stamping tools. Every pair of earrings is one of a kind! This selection and much more is headed to @sitkalighthouse store for their grand opening of their new location in downtown Sitka next Saturday! SEE LOCATIONS for link to store.
April 29, 2021
PETERSBURG, ALASKA
Petersburg Mural Society is grouping with the Petersburg Library, Arts Council and other local groups (names forthcoming) to start in on the Amy Hallingstad Legacy Mural project that will go up on the back of the court house building in Petersburg, Alaska, in 2022. Will talk more about this during the Sealaska Heritage Instituting Artist-in-Residency over the next few weeks. If you want to send a donation for the project send it to the Petersburg Arts Council with the title:
AMY HALLINGSTAD LEGACY MURAL.
Much gratitude for donations!
https://www.sealaska.com/shareholders/womens-history-month-spotlight-amy-hallingstad/
http://psglib.org/podcastblog/2021/2/18/episode-31-amy-hallingstad-local-civil-rights-pioneer
