Juneau, Alaska's Celebration

In 1982, the fledgling Native nonprofit Sealaska Heritage Institute held a dance-and-culture festival to celebrate the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian cultures of Southeast Alaska. Today, Celebration is one of the largest cultural events in the state, drawing thousands of people to the four-day festival. It is the largest gathering of Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian people in the world. It has grown to include associated events, including a Juried Art Show and Competition, a Juried Youth Art Exhibit, a Toddler Regalia Review, an Indigenous Fashion Show, a Native Artist Market, and Native food contests. The biennial event is schedule in early June every even year in Juneau. Everyone is welcome to attend.

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Soon our "Alaskan Native Tribal Arts" Signature Collections

Alaskan Native Arts are truly unique with its delicate carving, weaving, and engraving techniques passed down through generations, which ensures the preservation of ancestral knowledge and cultural continuity. Southeast Alaskan Native arts are clearly distinguished by their expert application of traditional materials and techniques. Skilled Alaskan artisans use materials like cedar wood, copper, mountain goat fleece, abalone shell, and many other nature-based materials to delicately make each piece by hand.

Academic and Scientific

SHI’s Box of Knowledge series consists of essays, reports,

and books that the institute considers should be made available as

a contribution to studies on Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian cultures,

history, and languages. They may be based on work carried out by

researchers working in collaboration with SHI, contributions prepared

by external experts, and work by staff.

Visit the Collection
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Background on Alaskan Native Arts

Southeast Alaskan Native Arts

Southeast Alaskan native pieces of art can be used to tell stories and preserve cultures. Each design has multiple levels of meaning, depicting mythology, clan crests, and historical occurrences. Southeast Alaskan Native arts use tales to impart indigenous wisdom, create intergenerational discussion, and proclaim cultural identity in the midst of historical suffering. In essence, Southeast Alaskan Native arts embody profound spirituality, artistic expertise, and cultural persistence. They serve as a tribute to indigenous peoples' continuing inventiveness and perseverance, enabling visitors to immerse themselves in the beauty and significance of Alaska's unique cultural tapestry.

This Site's Design

Much of our Shopify Store's design is being developed via the artists that collaborate with SHI and our store. We aim to advance community-synergies through showcasing their works prominently within both our main SHI website (www.SealaskaHeritage.org) and via our Shopify Store.

Alaskan Native Formline Arts

Soon to be updated.

Alaskan Native Wood Carving

Soon to be updated.

Alaskan Native Jewelry

Soon to be updated.

Alaskan Native Handicrafts

Soon to be updated.

2024 Fall Hours

SUNDAY & MONDAY:

CLOSED

TUESDAY - FRIDAY:

10 AM - 6 PM

SATURDAY:

10 AM - 5 PM

**Hours may be subject to change

Inquire in Store for details

Refund Policy

Returns 
Customers can return any eligible item within 30 days of purchase. If 30 days has passed, unfortunately we can’t offer a refund or exchange.

To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.

Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food cannot be returned.

Additional non-returnable items: 
Gift Cards 
Downloadable software products 
Some health/personal care items

To complete your return, we require a Receipt or Proof of Purchase.

Please do not send your purchase back to the manufacturer.

Refunds (if applicable) 
Once a return is received and inspected, we will send an email notification that we have received the returned item. We will also notify you of the approval or rejection of your refund. 
If you are approved, then the refund will be processed, and a credit will automatically be applied to the credit card or original method of payment, within a certain amount of days.

Late or missing refunds (if applicable) 
If you haven’t received a refund yet, first check your bank account again. 
Then contact your credit card company, it may take some time before your refund is officially posted. 
Next contact your bank. There is often some processing time before a refund is posted. 
If you’ve done all of this and you still have not received your refund yet, please contact us at thestore@sealaska.com.

Exchanges (if applicable) 
We only replace items if they are defective or damaged. If you need to exchange it for the same item, send us an email at thestore@sealaska.com and send your item to: 105 Heritage Way, Suite 101 Juneau Alaska US 99801.

Shipping 
To return your product, our mailing address is: 105 Heritage Way, Suite 101 Juneau Alaska US 99801

The customer is responsible for paying for shipping costs to return an item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.

Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.

If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.

Contact Details

SEALASKA HERITAGE STORE  

105 Heritage Way, Suite 101

Juneau, Alaska 99801

Phone: (907) 586-9114

Email: thestore@sealaska.com

Learn More About SHI

Perpetuating and enhancing Southeast Alaskan Native cultures

Sealaska Heritage is a regional Native nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation. Our mission is to perpetuate and enhance Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian cultures. Our goal is to promote cultural diversity and cross-cultural understanding.

We offer numerous programs promoting Southeast Alaskan Native culture, including language and art. We maintain a substantial archive of Southeast Alaskan Native ethnographic material. We partner with local schools to promote academics and cultural education. Biennially, we produce Celebration, Alaska's second-largest Native gathering. We own and operate the Sealaska Heritage Store, and produce True Southeast, an ongoing cultural exhibit on the first floor of our headquarters in Juneau's landmark Walter Soboleff Building.

In 1996, scientists in Southeast Alaska discovered ancient human remains in a cave on Prince of Wales Island. DNA analysis and other testing proved he was a Native male and that the remains were at least 10,000 years old. We named him Shuká Kaa (Man Before Us). For more than 10,000 years, we have been guided by ancient values that allowed our people to adapt to rapid cultural changes and to survive as a distinct cultural group. Today, we are seeking to integrate our cultural values into the institutions that directly serve our people. The values in Tlingit are:

Haa Aaní: Our Land: Honoring and Utilizing our Land (Haida: Íitl’ Tlagáa; Tsimshian: Na Yuubm)

Our ancestors, who have lived in this land for more than 10,000 years, taught us that everything has a Spirit. When we utilize our resources, we must acknowledge the Spirits of the Land, Sea and Air and tell them the benefits that their use will bring to our People. Our ancestors protected the ownership of our land for their children and grandchildren just as we must do for future generations.
Haa Latseen: Our Strength: Strength of Body, Mind, and Spirit (Haida: Íitl’ Dagwiigáay; Tsimshian: Na Yugyetga’nm)


The “Way of the Warriors’” path is to achieve physical and inner strength

Above all, young men and women are taught to protect and to care for their families and clans. They are taught to seek truth and knowledge and to adapt to changing times while maintaining the integrity of our ancient values.


Haa Shuká: Past, Present, and Future Generations: Honoring our Ancestors and Future Generations (Haida: Íitl’ Kuníisii; Tsimshian: Na Hlagigyadm)

We maintain strong bonds with our ancestors whom we honor through our lives and in our ceremonies. We also have responsibilities to our future generations, and we must ensure that we protect our land and culture for our children and grandchildren and those who will follow them.

Wooch Yax: Balance: Social and Spiritual Balance (Haida: Gu dlúu; Tsimshian: Ama Mackshm)

Wooch Yax must be maintained to ensure social and spiritual harmony lest ill will goes wandering and causes harm. Wooch Yax governs Interrelationships between Eagle and Raven clans Interrelationships between the Tlingit and others, including tribes, nations and institutions Wooch Yax includes Kaa yaa awuné or Respect for Others and Át yaa awuné or Respect for All Things. Wooch Yax requires that our People and our organizations conduct business with Yán gaa doonéekw or “Dignity,” realizing that everything has its rightful place and that all action and business must be done with integrity.

Our Founding

Sealaska Heritage was founded in 1980 by Sealaska after being conceived by clan leaders, traditional scholars and elders at the first Sealaska Elders Conference. During that meeting, the Elders likened Native culture to a blanket. They told the new leaders that their hands were growing weary of holding onto the metaphorical blanket, this "container of wisdom." They said they were transferring this responsibility to Sealaska, the regional Native corporation serving Southeast Alaska. In response, Sealaska founded Sealaska Heritage to operate cultural and educational programs. The late George Davis (Kichnáalx—Lk’aanaaw) of Angoon spoke these memorable words:

"We don't want what you did here to only echo in the air, how our grandfathers used to do things... Yes. You have unwrapped it for us. That is why we will open again this container of wisdom left in our care."

Sealaska Heritage is governed by a Board of Trustees and guided by a Council of Traditional Scholars and a Native Artist Committee.