In 2025 the Alaska Native Arts Foundation partnered with the Anchorage Museum Seed Lab to build an Alaska Native workshop series. Workshops ran from May through November 2025 and included mask carving with David Angaiak (Yup’ik), ladle carving with Eric Hamar (Haida), moosehide medallion beading with Rochelle Adams (Gwich’in), and seal skin bowtie making.
Thank you to our project supporters for making these workshops possible: The CIRI Foundation, the Alaska Native Museum Sovereignty group (with support from the Henry Luce Foundation), and the Municipality of Anchorage!
Rochelle Adams, beading workshop participant feedback: “Enaa baasee, for awonderful two days! I renewed my love for beading & Rochelle is a totally awesome teacher. There’s something special about women coming together around our cultures, sharing and community.”
David Angiak Reflection on his carving workshop: “The environment was wonderful, the participants receptive…and one of the students even flew in from Igiugig, Alaska to attend (so humbling)! I am very grateful for the opportunity to have shared a little of my heritage and knowledge, and look forward to the opportunity to take part in future programs helping to encourage our community in the arts.”
Joni Speiss with teaching sealskin bowtie class.