Alaskan Native Heritage

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On a day when the sun peeps through the clouds in Anchorage you get out and walk the streets which are lined with beautiful flowering baskets , you potter about the town garden squares and admire the bursts of colour of the most massive flowers.... they are all 5 times bigger here than in U.K. Downtown Anchorage has the feel of a small town with very few high rise buildings - maybe that's something to do with earthquakes and I am praying that another one doesn't happen while I am here !!!! Once in a lifetime is enough for me. It is small enough to wander in the central area , and gaze with Captain Cook across the water of Cook Straight to the mountains beyond.

However on the days when rain and dark clouds beckon it's good to learn about Native Alaskan art and ways of life so we headed to the Alaska Native Heritage Centre .... and might I add that we have had some trouble initially getting around as I was relying on my American Sally SATNAV to help me find the way but she seems to be struggling with finding Alaska so thank goodness Rosalind had an old fashioned paper map with her. We thought we might only be there for an hour or so but turned it out that we spent all day there. There are exhibits, workshops and cultural displays ....we saw drummers and dancers and also Native games and here were entertaining and interesting explanations all along. We then had an hour's guided tour around a small lake where there are Native village sites . There we learnt about the differnt ways of life and culture of the many different Native clans. Out of a population of 700,000 there are about 100,000 Native Alaskans many of whom are now dprediscovering there Heritage thanks to some of the ongoing programmes at this educational and cultural institution. Following on for three tour we sat in the theatre watching films giving insight into past and present ways of life.

So the next day it looked like rain again we found our way downtown to the Anchorage Museum where there is a fabulous collection of Native artefacts owned by the Smithsonian Institute , and we were lucky to have another guided tour by one of the museum staff . Another exhibition there explored the historical connections Alaska/USA has had with Russia....fascinating.

Then would you believe it the sun came out as we got back "home" and our hosts suggested a drive out to Eklunta Lake .... with water levels very low we walked on the cracked dried mud of the lake bed and along the trail and marvelled at the jagged snow topped mountains which contrasted so beautifully with bright green grasses growing on the edge of the lake bed.

Peruse the photos and marvel at the skills of the most resourceful Native Alaskans who lived in this land.

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Comments

[Dancing Dave]

Alaska
My mindset of Alaska is cold, cold, cold, Lynne. Great to see your pics of green grass, red flowers and native American artifacts that zing with colour. Sounds like a magic time of year to be there. How cold was it when you were there?

[Mumtraveller]

Alaska temperature
Dave , We have been lucky to have a high of 60 deg F at times, mostly in the 50s ... but lots of cloud , rain and fog. This is their summer weather pattern I guess !

[Julie]

Alaska
Beautiful... is there anywhere you hav not been !! Think of you often xx

[Jenny Mitton]

Alaska
Looks and sounds a really interesting place. Love the local art work and the views are just spectacular!

[D MJ Binkley]

The joys of Alaska
This time of year is amazing because of the long days.

[Ake Och Emma]

Alaska would be interesting
Thanks for posting this blog entry. I'd love to visit Alaska some day. I am sure it would be interesting. Alaska is actually on almost exactly the same latitude as Sweden but much larger and much more sparsely populated. /Ake

[Mumtraveller]

Norway
Hej Yes I haven't been to Norway yet , but it's on the list and not so far to travel for me..... been to Sweden many times .... the midnight sun element was just the same.