Four of the six students that participated in the Alaska Federation of Natives Conference in Anchorage, Alaska. Pictured: Kaylee Maxon, Kailee Carlson, Olivia Skaare, and Sophia Iaquinta.
The Alaska Federation of Natives conference is an annual event hosted in Anchorage at which all Alaskan Native tribes are represented and come together to “Rise as One”. In this shared space both leaders and members of the tribal communities meet to exchange views on current issues facing the Native population such as hunting, fishing, land, and voting rights. Specifically, there is a youth and elders conference in which the wise and the young population convene to bring together the old traditions with the new. AFN provided a truly unique experience for the students who were able to attend. With the largest Native Craft fair in the US and nightly cultural “Quyana” performances, which is a Yupik term meaning “thank you”; the students were able to both engage in conversation with current leaders in the native community, and wholly immerse themselves into their experience.