Day of culture and education planned for Saturday

The holidays are a time when many gifts are given, from the candy handed out to children on Halloween, to the offerings of food on Thanksgiving, to the exchanging of presents at Christmas. Several local Alaska Native organizations are planning one more day of giving as part of National American Indian Heritage Month.

"It's called 'A Gift From Me to You,'" said Dana Verrengia, with the Kenaitze Indian Tribe, in regard to "the day of culture and education" scheduled for Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Renee C. Henderson Auditorium at Kenai Central High School.

The Kenaitze Indian Tribe, Salamatof Tribal Council and Kenai Peninsula Borough School District are hosting the event, and Verrengia said there will be much for people of all ages to take in that day.

"It'll be a fun day for kids, families, anyone that wants to come out," she said.

Amanda Attla, a coach for the Kenaitze's Native Youth Olympic team, said the cultural performances and demonstrations that will be ongoing throughout the day are not to be missed.

"We have seven confirmed dance and drum groups that will be performing. Two from Anchorage, one from Seward and the rest from here, so it'll be worth checking out for sure,"Attla said, and added two more groups, one from Tyonek and the other from Nanwalek, have also expressed an interest in performing and may still attend.

"We'll also be having demonstrations of Native games by the NYO team," she said, and added there will be at least three tables set up where Alaska Native arts and crafts will be for sale, as well.

While this may all seem like a lot to experience, it is only a portion of the day's activities. Since the event is about education, as well as culture, there will also be more than 20 tables and booths for a career and post-secondary education fair, Attla said.

"There will be booths from UAA, KPC, AVTEC, the Job Center and lots of other trade and apprentice groups, and military branches. We want to let the kids know what's available to them after high school," Verrengia said.

After the day's events that are free and open to the public wind down, there will be more entertainment in the evening, but tickets are required for a short play by the Kenaitze at 5:30 p.m. and a 6 p.m. performance by the band Pamyua.

The opening performance will be called "Nightwalk" which will be a theatrical interpretation of the history of the Kenaitze people, according to Verrengia.

"It'll present the history from pre-contact, to the arrival of the Russians, to Americans, to the Forest Service, through to today," she said.

As to Pamyua, Verrengia said "They're an Alaskan Native musical group that mixes traditional Yup'ik music with modern, new-world funk."

General admission for the evening entertainments is $15 for adults and $10 for children ages 12 and under. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Charlotte's Restaurant, the Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center, Artworks or River City Books in Soldotna.

For more information on "A Gift From Me To You," contact either Amanda Attla at 283-6423 ext. 244 or Michael Bernard at 398-1510.

Joseph Robertia can be reached at joseph.robertia@peninsulaclarion.com.