Preserving the values, knowledge, languages and traditions of the people of the Middle Kuskokwim has been identified as a priority by our Shareholders. Our Shareholders have expressed the importance for us to provide opportunities for our Shareholders to connect, stay connected, or reconnect with the rich culture and heritage of the Middle Kuskokwim. In response to this feedback, the Kuskokwim Corporation (TKC) and our Board of Directors developed and recently launched the TKC ROOTS (Raising Our Own Traditional Stewards) program. Through TKC ROOTS, we work to preserve and promote Middle Kuskokwim culture and traditions through cultural learning activities; tools and resources to share traditional knowledge and wisdom; and providing access to opportunities beyond TKC.
Cultural Learning Opportunities
One of the ways we work to provide opportunities for our Shareholders to participate in our culture is through cultural learning classes. We regularly invite Shareholders, Elders, Alaska Native artists, and other community members to teach classes and share knowledge about Alaska Native culture, traditions, art, history, and language.
Classes we have or are interested in offering include
(but are not limited to):
- Skin sewing
- Beading
- Basket making
- Making traditional clothing
- Mask making
- Drum making
- Crafting circles
- Harvesting & foraging
- Processing fish or meat
- Canning pressure cooking and water bath
- Cooking traditional recipes
- Ice fishing
- Fish traps
- Building fish wheels
- Storytelling
- Language
- Dance/Yuraqing
Not only do our classes create space for our Shareholders to connect with our community and rich cultural heritage, but they leave the class with knowledge a traditional skill, craft, or practice. They can share with that knowledge with others to further promote and preserve our culture, or they can turn that knowledge into a source of income to sustain and provide for themselves and their families.
If you or someone you know is interested in teaching a class or hosting an event to promote cultural learning, please contact us at info@kuskokwim.com or message us on TKC’s Facebook page. Classes and events can be held in-person or online over Zoom.
Increasing access to cultural learning
We understand we have Shareholders who are unable to attend our cultural learning classes and other in-person events. We want our Shareholders to be able to participate in and benefit from the TKC ROOTS opportunities we provide through our TKC ROOTS program, no matter where they are located.
To bridge the gap, we are working with those teaching cultural learning classes to offer classes virtually over Zoom. We also plan to record videos of the classes we offer (when appropriate) so our Shareholders can learn traditional skills, crafts, or practices from anywhere at any time. Current recordings can be found on our YouTube channel.
ROOTS Rooms AT TKC
Recognizing the benefit of creating time and space for intergenerational sharing, TKC’s Anchorage and Aniak offices have created ROOTS Rooms. A place for people to simply hang out and visit, share coffee and stories, work on their own creative projects or even teach a small class if they want. We wanted a place that feels more like home and welcome visitors at any time.
Connecting Shareholders to Opportunities Beyond TKC
Our goal is to connect our Shareholders with as many opportunities to learn the culture and traditions of the Middle Kuskokwim. In addition to offering classes and providing various tools, resources, and materials directly to our Shareholders, we want to help them access cultural learning opportunities not administered by TKC. This may include:
- Partnering with in-region Tribes, schools, and other organizations to host culture camps and other youth cultural learning activities.
- Sponsoring Shareholders to attend camps, classes, conferences, and events held by other organizations
- Sharing/promoting opportunities our Shareholders can participate in/benefit from
- Scholarships to help pay for cultural learning opportunities through KEF
To learn more about TKC ROOTS, to host a class through TKC, or to share your ideas and feedback on how we can preserve and promote the Middle Kuskokwim culture, please contact us at info@kuskokwim.com.