The pacific northwest and hawaiian islands arts program provides enhanced pacific northwest and hawaiian islands art programs that promote the scholarly study of, and instruction in, alaska native and…

This federal Project Grant award from the Department of the Interior National Park Service Alaska Region under the Pacific Northwest and Hawaiian Islands Arts program (CFDA 15.071) provides $243,457.40 to the Goldbelt Heritage Foundation to establish programs that promote the scholarly study and instruction of Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian arts and culture.

Over 4 years, the grant will fund the creation of two traditional Tlingit dugout canoes by 300 Southeastern Alaskan youth in grades 9-12, working directly with Tlingit carvers and culture bearers. It will also develop and implement 3 indigenous high school courses connecting canoe-making to STEM principles, and launch the first annual Inter-Channel Youth Canoe Gathering in 2026. The project aims to preserve and enhance Tlingit culture and art through this hands-on engagement with traditional practices.

The pacific northwest and hawaiian islands arts program provides enhanced pacific northwest and hawaiian islands art programs that promote the scholarly study of, and instruction in, alaska native and native hawaiian arts and culture. Work will establish programs which culminate in the awarding of degrees in the various fields of alaska native and native hawaiian art and culture, or to establish centers and programs with respect to alaska native or native hawaiian art and culture. The project, daak yaylatsaak push the boat out, will preserve and enhance tlingit culture and art, providing scholarly study of and instruction in the making of traditional dugout canoes, an indigenous watercraft. Over the course of four years, at least 300 southeastern alaskan youth from juneau and kake in grades 9-12 will be invited to study and work directly with culture bearers, tlingit carver and canoe expert herb sheakley, and master carver wayne price to create two unique traditional dugout canoes. This project s objectives are partnering with one urban and one rural school district to: (1) create two traditional dugout canoes (2) develop and implement three indigenous high school courses connecting canoe-making to stem principles and (3) launch of the first annual inter-channel youth canoe gathering in 2026.beneficiaries include: local, federally recognized indian tribal governments, minority group, native american organizations, artist humanist, student trainee, youth (16-21).