Art shows like the one at AFN help keep alive activities in Native villages like sewing and carving, one vendor said. Offering everything from moose hide gloves to whale bone masks, artists were glad to be back this year.
Aakatchaq Schaeffer hangs one of her masks at the exhibit fair of the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention at the Dena’ina Center on Thursday. The masks are made of caribou skin and various furs.
It’s a cultural extravaganza with more than 150 artists from Alaska villages statewide. They sell crafts typically made from animals and plants they’ve hunted or gathered, like moose hide gloves, whale bone masks, musk ox horn earrings, birch baskets and balms made from wormwood and other plants. “My sales are already up,” he said early in the day. “It feels like everyone is ready to buy because they haven’t seen this kind of art in a while.”
It’s only now that many shops have started to sell off their inventory of Native art, to begin making new purchases, Pungowiyi said. AFN also distributed pandemic relief checks to artists. They were welcome, but couldn’t make up for lost sales, artists said.The Southeast Alaska artist from the village of Yakutat said he often makes about $10,000 at the event.He focused on increasing online sales during the pandemic. But elder artists who aren’t as familiar with that process often didn’t have that opportunity, he said.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Peltola, politics pack first post-pandemic AFN agendaThe theme of this year’s Alaska Federation of Natives convention, 'Celebrating our Unity,' will hit home for many with today's keynote speech from Rep. Mary Peltola — the first time the convention has heard from an Alaska Native member of Congress.
Read more »
Alaska Federation of Natives convention opens Thursday in AnchorageThe Alaska Federation of Natives convention is underway today through Saturday at the Dena'ina Center in downtown Anchorage. Here's the events lineup.
Read more »
Alaska Federation of Natives convention kicks off Thursday in AnchorageAfter going virtual the last two years, AFN’s annual conference returns in person at the Dena’ina Center. Here’s a roundup of what attendees can look forward to.
Read more »
Alaska Federation of Natives kicks off convention week with the AFN Tribal ConferenceThe conference featured a variety of speakers who detailed the struggles many Alaska Native communities face. Some of those speeches included discussion about broadband and infrastructure.
Read more »
Each Day Is a Potential Medical Emergency Due to My Invisible Disabilities—but I’m Still EmpoweredI Have to Live in a Bubble—and Each Day Is a Potential Medical Emergency—but I Am Still Empowered
Read more »