Alutiiq Museum facts for kids

The Alutiiq Museum is a special place in Kodiak, Alaska. It's a non-profit museum and cultural center. Its main job is to protect and share the amazing traditions of the Alutiiq people. These people are also known as Sugpiaq ~ Alutiiq. They are part of the Alaska Native community.

What is the Alutiiq Museum?

The museum is found on the first floor of the Alutiiq Center. This building is in Kodiak, Alaska. The Alutiiq Museum is one of four museums in Kodiak. It is also the seventh museum in Alaska to be officially recognized. It was the second tribal museum in the United States to get this special accreditation.

What can you see and do there?

The museum offers tours of its exhibits. You can also see its special laboratory and storage areas. These tours are great for school groups. The museum collects many different items. These items help tell the story of the Native peoples of the Koniag Alutiiq Nation.

The collections include old tools, photos, films, and recordings. They also have maps and natural items. This cultural center has a main gallery for displays. It also has storage for over 190,000 local artifacts. These artifacts include animal bones, plant samples, and field notes. The Alutiiq Museum is a small place, but it holds a very large collection. It has almost 250,000 items! The museum uses these collections to help the Alutiiq community connect with its past.

Who are the Sugpiaq ~ Alutiiq people?

The Sugpiaq ~ Alutiiq Nation covers a large area. This includes islands and coastlines in the central Gulf of Alaska. It includes Prince William Sound and the outer Kenai Peninsula. It also covers Kachemak Bay for the Chugach Sugpiaq. The Kodiak Archipelago and the Alaska Peninsula are home to the Koniag Alutiiq.

History of the Alutiiq Museum

The Alutiiq Museum grew from a special part of the Kodiak Area Native Association (KANA). This part was called the culture and heritage division. It started in 1987. Its goal was to support archaeological research on the island. It also created educational programs about Sugpiaq ~ Alutiiq culture. Plus, it held workshops on the Sugpiaq ~ Alutiiq language and arts.

In 1990, this division became the Alutiiq Culture Center. It moved into its own building. Many archaeological finds from local digs were brought back to Kodiak. They were kept at the center. Public exhibits were then made from these items.

How the Museum Grew

In 1993, KANA received a grant. This money came from the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council. The grant helped them create a modern archaeological storage and research center. The museum officially opened in April 1995. It welcomed the public in May 1995. All the collections from the Alutiiq Culture Center were moved to the new Alutiiq Museum at that time.

About the Kodiak Area Native Association (KANA)

KANA is an ANCSA Native association. It was started in 1966. It is a non-profit group that helps people. KANA provides health and social services. These services are for the Alaska Natives in the Koniag region.

KANA helps people in the City of Kodiak (Sun'aq). It also serves six Alutiiq villages. These villages are Akhiok (Kasukuak), Karluk (Kal'uq), Old Harbor (Nuniaq), Ouzinkie (Uusenkaaq), Port Lions (Masiqsirraq), and Larsen Bay (Uyaqsaq). A group of ten people leads KANA.

See also

• Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center
• List of museums in Alaska
• Sven Haakanson Jr. (a former leader of the Alutiiq Museum)
• Awa'uq Massacre
• Koniag, Incorporated