Sealaska heritage institute, on behalf of sealaska corporation, will preserve and provide digital access to 1,730 video recordings that capture past culture and language revitalization efforts

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) awarded Sealaska Heritage Institute $250,000 under the Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services Program (CFDA 45.308) on October 1, 2025, to preserve and digitize 1,730 video recordings documenting past culture and language revitalization efforts for Southeast Alaska's three endangered indigenous languages: Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian. The project, which extends through September 30, 2027, will create short educational videos derived from the archival collection to inform new and returning patrons about resources for language perpetuation and cultural practice revitalization. Additionally, project staff will develop a finding aid and establish processing protocols for archival collections to enhance museum service delivery and strengthen institutional capacity.

This initiative supports Sealaska Heritage Institute's mission to serve the organization's 26,000 shareholders, their descendants, and the broader public by building organizational capacity in collections management and stewardship. The project aligns with the NANH program's core objectives of preserving and perpetuating indigenous languages and cultural practices while advancing professional collections management practices within Native American-serving institutions.

Project staff will draw from the recordings to create short educational videos to inform new and returning patrons about resources for perpetuating southeast alaska's three endangered indigenous languages and revitalizing tlingit, haida, and tsimshian cultural practices. The creation of a finding aid and protocols for processing archival collections will further support museum services, and build sealaska's capacity to serve its 26,000 shareholders, their descendants, and the public.