| In downtown Juneau, tourists can see a wall | | | | Native Arts Festival in February brings together |
| sculpture of Chief Kowee, head of the Auk Tlingits | | | | artwork, crafts, dance and folklore. In Nome, 54% of |
| tribe. In the 1800s, he guided prospectors Joe Juneau | | | | the population is comprised of native Eskimos and |
| and Rihard Harris to a reservoir of gold along Alaska's | | | | the main industries are mining and tourism. You can |
| southeast Gastineau Channel. Asking only for Hudson | | | | take a polar bear swim, watch a dog sled race, |
| Bay blankets and small compensation, Chief Kowee | | | | watch crab fishermen at work, pan for gold or buy |
| was a great ally to the Europeans and later served in | | | | native Alaskan art. Barrow boasts the world's largest |
| the Alaskan native police force. | | | | Inupiat Eskimo settlement, where you'll see how |
| Over the coming years, the town of Juneau sprung | | | | fishing and hunting are still a way of life, but have |
| up and thousands of gold prospectors flooded the | | | | been combined with modern conveniences, like |
| Yukon to find their fortune. If you go on an Alaskan | | | | snowmobiles and tools. The Heritage Center has been |
| vacation and take a White Pass train ride, then you | | | | called "a must-see for every visitor." |
| can still see the remnants of historic mines and | | | | If you visit Barrow in the late winter, then be sure to |
| evidence of optimism and the quest for the | | | | look for the awe-inspiring Northern Lights! These are |
| American dream. | | | | just a few of the native villages, of course. If you |
| A good starting point to learn more about Alaska's | | | | are taking an Alaskan cruise or planning a bundled trip, |
| indigenous people is to visit The Alaska Native | | | | then your travel agent should be able to point you in |
| Heritage Center in Anchorage Alaska. This world | | | | the right direction. |
| renowned cultural center and museum contains | | | | When visiting Alaska, there are many ways to |
| information, educational materials, video | | | | experience the Alaskan native culture. You can |
| presentations, artwork and displays documenting the | | | | embark upon a seven-night, all-inclusive Holland Cruise, |
| following Alaskan native peoples: the Athabascan, the | | | | which includes native tour guides, narration and |
| Aleut & Alutiiq, the Yup'ik & Cup'ik, the Inupiaq & St. | | | | presentations about Inuit life, as well as port stops in |
| Lawrence Island Yupik, the Eyak, the Tlingit, the | | | | native villages. |
| Haida and the Tsimshian. | | | | Or you can choose a day trip to a place like the |
| Here you can view beaded artwork from the | | | | Saxman native village, the Fairbanks Native Arts |
| Athabascan people, learn about the spirituality of the | | | | Festival or stop at the Alaska Native Heritage Center. |
| Yup'ik and Cup'ik, who believed in good shamans for | | | | Native artwork makes a great memento of your |
| healing and bad shamans who placed curses on | | | | once-in-a-lifetime experience in America's 49th state. |
| people, or gaze upon the festive Chilkat & raven's tail | | | | Learn more about the alaskan native at Mike Selvon |
| robe regalia worn at the Eyak potlach festivals. | | | | portal. While you are there leave is a comment at our |
| Fairbanks Alaska is a good launching place for learning | | | | alaska travel blog, and receive your FREE gift. |
| more about the Alaskan native peoples. The annual | | | | |