Gas pipelines nor any northern development stand independent of northern culture.  One can best come to understand and appreciate northern people through understanding of their art and heritage. 

Welcome to the art and cultural heritage of the North.  While one thinks predominantly of our cherished, Native and Aboriginal cultures in Alaska and Canada, the modern age has introduced a diversity of culture, also to be respected (Photo: Dennis G. McMillian serves as President of the Foraker Group and United Way of Anchorage and Executive Director of the Alaska Community Foundation.  Phillips Alaska provides office space. The groups Dennis represent have major impact, supporting both the cultural heritage and the practical survival of many community organizations throughout the state. 4-27-01) 

Please scroll down to explore this fascinating world and find other cultural references on our First Peoples Page

A.  Alaska  B. Canada C.  Art, Sculpture  D. A Very Special Story    

A.  Alaska.  (Photos: Right-skin raincoat, Alaska Coastal Initiatives Office; Left-Cook Inlet Tribal Council Hallway, 3-01) Alaska Stock Images; Arctic Refuge Art;  Alaskaphotography.com; 360 Alaska; Alaska Hobbs Family Photos; Alaska Native Arts & Crafts Resource Center; Alaska Native Heritage Center; Alaska Museum of Natural History; Alaska Native Costume Links; Alaska State Museums (Juneau/Sitka); Anchorage Museum of History and Art; Bethel Council on the Arts; Eskimo - Inuit Art; Eskimo Village Crafts; Eskimo Yo-Yo; First Alaskans; John Tobin's work; Juneau Museum; North Slope/ANWR Photos: Third Eye Photo, & Words & Pictures; Nunivak Island Native Art; Raven's Window (Haines); Siberian Yu'pik Art; Spirit Walker Expeditions; Totem Poles; Yupik Eskimo Art; ADN-One Percent for Art; ADN-Last of old masters dies.

(Note: The Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, in Anchorage, is one of America's world class facilities, with three theaters.  To many, the interlocking rings adorning the building ("Visual Music", by Eric Staller) with circling, colored lights brightening the winter nights, signify a welcome to many cultures and performing art forms.  From Native dances of many origins to musical and dance performances from Asia and Europe, virtually no part of the globe has gone unrecognized in this modern, ceremonial lodge, or unappreciated.)

B.  Canada.  AboriginartGallery; Ancient Inuit Museum Art; Arctic Explorer Service; Art of the Inuvialuit and Inuvik Art (Photo); Canadian Eskimo Art; Dene Gallery/Yellowknife; Inukshuk; Large Source of Inuit Art/Corporate Gifts; L'Art Inuit du Canada; Inuit Art; Nunavut Art; Mike Tobin; Guravich; Theresie Tungilik;  Tookalook Native Arts; Repulse Bay artist Paul Mallaki honored.

I note your Company has the Inukshuk as a logo.  I a wholesaler of carvings...a small group of Inuit carvers living in Alberta...one specializes in Inukshuks.  We can make them for you in any size - and any quantity you wish.  These range from 2 inches in height to 9 inches.  Prices are from your cost $10 - $150.  As you go up in size - they are $10-12.50-62.50-100-150.  These are great items as table gifts at conferences - employee recognition - fund raiser donations - etc.    - Henry Van Nistelrooy - Native Art Exports of Canada Ltd.  780-417-9556

C.  Art/Sculpture/Souvenirs of the North:  Alaska Art & Sculpture; Inuit - Eskimo Fine Art; Native Art Cache; E-Bay Contacts

D.  A Very Special Note (Photo: Matthew Nicolai, President and CEO, Calista Corporation, 4/25/01):  The author (with his 11-year-old son, Billy) was privileged to see Matthew Nicolai perform during a special Rotary meeting in the Christmas season, 2000, at the Alaska Native Heritage Center.  Most of us knew our fellow Rotarian as the good-humored and influential President of Calista Corporation (See note #1 below).  But, on this day, we were to glimpse into Matthew's culture and artistry.  We would see him as a performing artist: a singer, string weaver and story teller.  Slowly, with a wry smile on his face, he pulled from his pocket a long string.  And as all children learn, he began to weave the string in his fingers, making designs.  But Matthew's were the most beautiful and ornate we had ever seen.  As he wove a walrus hide kayak replica with string, he would weave a story from his youth in the village into the imagination of our minds.  We were in awe of this man who once grew up as a child in the village of Kwethluk, on the banks of the Lower Kuskokwim River.  Then, Matthew passed out the words in his ancient language, Yup'ik, in which he is fluent, carefully teaching us how to sing "Up On The House Top" (See note #2 below for Christmas fun.).  Matthew has the wisdom of an 'elder', as he now is to many: he knows that language is difficult to teach and learn.  Sometimes the best teaching techniques involve song and humor.  On that day, the Rotary audience learned and appreciated.  On our way home in the car, Billy said, "Dad, could we practice that song again?"  So we sang together in broken Yup'ik as we remembered Matthew, his strings and his extraordinary stories.  The child growing in the village of Kwethluk, on the Lower Kuskoquim River, has done well and passed on some of his spirit to my son and me.  -dh

Note 1: Calista Corporation was one of the 13 Alaska Native Regional formed as a product of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA).  Matthew Nicolai presides over a company owing over 6 million acres of Alaska.  The 56 villages in his region are organized into 45 additional 'village corporations' under ANCSA encompassing 56,000 square miles and 20,000 residents of whom 13,300 are Calista shareholders:Yup'ik, Cup'ik and Athabascan people (Note: of these, Bethel Native Corporation is one of the most successful--and, the sixth largest--village corporations in the State).  It is inspiring that Matthew is responsible for so much, yet labors consistently to preserve and enhance the cultural heritage of his fellow citizens and shareholders.  Not surprising, all of the other Regional and Village Corporations in Alaska--and Canadian Aboriginal organizations and companies--focus substantial resources on cultural heritage issues as well.  Accordingly, the visitor or new company seeking success in Alaska or Northern Canada would be well advised to become familiar with and appropriately respect local traditions and culture. -dh

Note 2:

"Up On The House Top" (Yup'ik-style)

(1st Verse)

Nem Guy Nah Noon

Dune Doot Me Doot

You Guck Dook

Santa Claus Ahk

Boo You Vee Goon

Nah Goh Oot Neck

Me Ghel Noot

Ah Loo Sis Dough Lah Guy

(Chorus:)

Ho-Ho-Ho

Kee Nah Kick Yook

Ho-Ho-Ho

Be You Me Da

Nem Guy Un Loo Knee

Dem-Dem-Dem

Boo You Vee Goon

Down Ah Dune Do Leck!

(2nd Verse)

Chiuk Lick

Soo Kick

Nah Yah Ga Moon

Dung Goo Ee Muck Doo

Kee Loo Knee

You Goak Duck Ook

Nel Ah Dool Geh

Gee Kem Get Tah Guck

Loony Loo

(Chorus)

(3rd Verse)

Eye Bah Soo Kick

Un Nahk Bug Moon

Dung Goo Ee Muck Do

Ghee Loo Knee

Moo Loo Do Meck

Ol Sook Jaw Neck

Ung Guck

Bick Ol Duck Buck Wha

(Chorus)