Rural Alaska is rich with cultural resources. Alaska Natives, white settlers, contemporary oilfield workers and homesteaders all engage in making art, social dancing, performing, and/or sharing music. Since statehood (1959), there have been a series of cultural revivals of different sorts. In this section, the students and I will share some of the art, music, and performance resources we discovered in rural Alaska. The photograph to the left was taken in Bethel in 2012 at a community fiddle dance. To read more about the dance, and the long tradition and upsurge in fiddle dances in rural Alaska, check out this article in the Anchorage Daily News:
http://www.adn.com/2012/11/03/2681810/arriving-like-urban-sprawl-fiddle.html
The unique Gwich'in fiddling style is a blend of trader, missionary, country influences and Gwich'in life. This link has sound clips from about 20 songs of the style.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.folkways.si.edu/music-of-the-gwichin-indians-of-alaska/american-indian/album/smithsonian
Modern native Alaskan art shows the blending of cultures using modern techniques to bring tradition to life.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/artist-percy-avugiak-brings-alaska-native-dance-life
http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/alaska-artist-nicholas-galanin-works-many-mediums-0
The link below contains links to many artists as well as describes various artistic traditions in Alaska. Many native Alaskans earn their incomes as artists.
http://www.alaskanativearts.org/explore-cultures
The link below describes the history of the Inuit. It also discusses the relevance of art in the inuit culture today. Art helps connect the artists to their heritage. The art often shows the assimilation of the inuit to modern society while still remembering their past. Has anybody else noticed that art seems to be the bridge between the two worlds that they are expected to live in? It seems to give them a way to remain connected with their past while coping with modern society. http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Ha-La/Inuit.html
DeleteFor Alaskan Natives drumming has a strong spiritual, cultural, and historical significance. The drumbeat symbolizes the heartbeat of Mother Earth, the heartbeat of the indigenous nations. Drumming has been used in many religious rituals, social dances, sporting events, and special ceremonies: bringing people together in many community affairs. Historically drumming was the original method of communication to outside tribes over long distances. As drumming developed from over the centuries, it became more than a means of entertainment by becoming ingrained as an important part cultural life.
ReplyDeleteIn recent research done of the therapeutic effects of drumming, evidence has demonstrated the physical and psychological effects associated with drumming. Drumming has been shown to have specific therapeutic applications to additions recovery by providing rhythmic auditory stimuli that contribute to a desired meditative state. The positive effects of drumming have been observed in treatment of physical conditions, mental illnesses, and personality disorders by encouraging physiological relaxation, facilitating in self-regulation of physiological processes that reduce tension, anxiety, and phobic reactions, and facilitating in cognitive-emotional integration and social bonding and affiliation.
In the cases of using group drumming to activate and reinforce the recovery process, the drumming produces a sense of connectedness and community between the participants. Since addicted people have the tendency to be self-focused, disconnected, and feel isolated even around other people, group drumming is able to counteract those feelings.
Alaskan Natives experience significantly higher rates of depression, suicide, and alcoholism compared to other ethnic groups in the United States. Since drumming is highly culturally and spiritually significant, using it as a way to promote treatment effectively increases the sense of community lost when individuals fall under the influence of alcohol and mental illnesses.
The first link is to the abstract of the study
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22931086
The second link is to a presentation made about this study
http://www.oneskycenter.org/projects/nida/documents/D.Dickerson-UtilizationofDrummingforAmericanIndiansandAlaskaNativeswithSubstanceAbuseDisorde.pdf
In Fairbanks and the surrounding areas small local music festivals are a yearly occurrence. This past weekend, the music festival Angry, Young, and Poor (AYP) happened in Ester Park about 5 miles outside of Fairbanks. These eclectic festivals gather Alaskan musicians and music lovers in an unique setting, allowing for very free expression of all sorts of art. The following are interviews with the participants of the music festival:
ReplyDeleteHow many years have you come to AYP?
BB: This is third year. Let me start off by saying I'm not young, I'm not poor, but I'm plenty angry.
IP: This is the first time.
AB: I believe this is my third year. It’s all sorts of fun.
GF: I don’t even remember.
PG: That would be... seven years
C: This is my third
Why do you come here?
BB: Because I like.... reminds me of the sixties and I like the energy... and it’s free.
Have you gone to any other Alaskan Music Festivals, such as Clucking Blossom?
BB: I didn’t go to Clucking Blossom this year. I’ve gone to the music in the Georgeson Gardens, I’ve gone to the Summer Folk Festival and the Winter Folk Festival.
IP: Ahh... Clucking Blossom I guess
AB: I try to go to whichever ones I can. This is the one that seems to be the largest and most open ended-est of them. I generally end up being able to make it but some of the other ones are a little shorter... I don’t know... I try.
GF: So far it’s only been AYP and Clucking Blossom.
PG: Clucking Blossom, Trapper’s Creek, Anderson, Fishstock....
C: Yeah most of them. I’m thinking about playing a set at College Coffee House soon.
Have you gone to any outside of Fairbanks?
AB: Unfortunately I have not, but I’ve always been interested.
C: I got to Trapper Creek. It’s my favorite. It’s like the most funny, rowdy Alaskan festival. All the crusties come out of Anchorage, the music is freaking wonderful. It’s just an extremely wonderful time.
What do you think is your favorite part about all these community based events?
BB: Music brings people together. I’ve played in a few of these events [with the Skid Marks]. One good thing about the music [at AYP] is that they feature music that doesn’t get to perform at other places.
IP: I don’t think I know it well enough to make a judgement.
AB: I like the change of perspectives I suppose. I like seeing the people and the music, not necessarily represented by my own narrow college bound view of the world. I guess it’s just less ethnocentric even though, of course, I spend my time with my friends while I’m here. It still feels... I don’t know... people watching to a grand scale feels good.
What are your opinions on the local Alaskan music scene?
IP: I think it’s really good. I think there are some really talented people.
AB: It is healthy as far as I know. Socially constructed views are expressed and good people find other good people. I like what they’re doing with the place.
GF: The less I have to do with Alaskan music the better. Don’t like being in Alaska. It’s separated from the rest of the world, so you don’t get a good view of anything. Everything that does come up is filtered through... a couple years of cultural lag. It’s too green. Not enough urbanization.
PG: Fairbank being an isolated place, yet a still unique and some how eclectic bunch of people makes for a pretty interesting music style. The college imports a lot of interesting people. KSUA has a good influence. There’s a lot of different music. It’s like having many different scenes that are all part of the same scene.
C: I really only know Fairbanks scene. I like the Fairbanks, basically the whole DIY type of thing is really big right now. And that’s what Fairbanks already is. It doesn’t need to be established by any means. This is what we do here. It isn’t too special, but it’s wonderful.
I like the mix of people you interviewed. From Fairbanks lovers to haters!
DeleteI was quite surprised when I interviewed the Fairbanks hater, especially since we were at a community event.
DeleteHere is a website that talks about the different aspects of the Alaskan Native art and dance from the different indegenous groups we have here. This site offers an overview of the different cultures we have and the cultural significance these forms of arts have to the specific culture. I find it very informative and is a great first exposure that eases the reader into Alaskan Native culture.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.echospace.org/articles/285/sections/709.html
From Tiffany: I found this very interesting study connected the biological effects of drumming in Alaskan Native communities to treatment of substance abuse disorders.
ReplyDeleteThe first link is to the abstract of the study
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22931086
The second link is to a presentation made about this study
http://www.oneskycenter.org/projects/nida/documents/D.Dickerson-UtilizationofDrummingforAmericanIndiansandAlaskaNativeswithSubstanceAbuseDisorde.pdf
Here is a quick overview of this study and the significance of drumming that I have written:
For Alaskan Natives drumming has a strong spiritual, cultural, and historical significance. The drumbeat symbolizes the heartbeat of Mother Earth, the heartbeat of the indigenous nations. Drumming has been used in many religious rituals, social dances, sporting events, and special ceremonies: bringing people together in many community affairs. Historically drumming was the original method of communication to outside tribes over long distances. As drumming developed from over the centuries, it became more than a means of entertainment by becoming ingrained as an important part cultural life.
In recent research done of the therapeutic effects of drumming, evidence has demonstrated the physical and psychological effects associated with drumming. Drumming has been shown to have specific therapeutic applications to additions recovery by providing rhythmic auditory stimuli that contribute to a desired meditative state. The positive effects of drumming have been observed in treatment of physical conditions, mental illnesses, and personality disorders by encouraging physiological relaxation, facilitating in self-regulation of physiological processes that reduce tension, anxiety, and phobic reactions, and facilitating in cognitive-emotional integration and social bonding and affiliation.
In the cases of using group drumming to activate and reinforce the recovery process, the drumming produces a sense of connectedness and community between the participants. Since addicted people have the tendency to be self-focused, disconnected, and feel isolated even around other people, group drumming is able to counteract those feelings.
Alaskan Natives experience significantly higher rates of depression, suicide, and alcoholism compared to other ethnic groups in the United States. Since drumming is highly culturally and spiritually significant, using it as a way to promote treatment effectively increases the sense of community lost when individuals fall under the influence of alcohol and mental illnesses.
From Amelia:
ReplyDeleteStill doing research on arts and music, but I figured I'd send you what I have been working on so far.
http://www.folkways.si.edu/music-of-the-gwichin-indians-of-alaska/american-indian/album/smithsonian the link I posted on the site of Gwich'in fiddle songs as an example of uniquely Northern music style.
Canadian Northern Arts Organizations/Festivals
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http://www.gnaf.org/Home.aspx
This is the one of the largest visual arts festival north of 60 in Canada. Begun in 1989, it has grown steadily and celebrates it's 25th year, this year. It is happening right now in Inuvik (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inuvik), NWT, a town with a population of 3,500 on the Mackenzie Delta . It has a strong base of traditional First Nations art, and crafts, but there is a mix of non-native artists as well. This festival has a number of workshops to gain skills, especially in traditional arts. Usually tourists, and non-native people take these classes, and this provides a forum to learn about First Nation values and culture.
http://www.kiac.ca/about/historyofkiac/ Klondike Institute of Art and Culture is an organization that has really helped transform Dawson City, YT from an old mining town, to a bustling arts community. Dawson City now boasts several film festivals, an arts festival, artist in residence programs, galleries, and even a foundation year Art School. This is an excellent example of arts as economic development in rural areas.
Music festivals, the rise in them, economic benefits and as part of regional development
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I have been trying to find research in Alaska on the economic benefits of music and arts festivals, but have yet to find much. There is however much research already completed in Australia, the U.K and some in the lower 48 on this rise in music festivals fostering rural revitalization. This might be some research I would like to develop, focusing on the North.
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/music-festivals-enjoy-record-expansion-in-2012-20120928 This is not a rural specific article, but it talks about the boom in music festivals over the past few decades, and how that is fueling more and more local festivals.
This is a recent article on economic impacts of the Country Thunder Festival in Wisconsin http://urpl.wisc.edu/people/marcouiller/publications/13countrythunder.pdf A Country Music Festival and its Local Community Economic Impacts. From 2012.
http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/lsereviewofbooks/2013/03/25/book-review-music-festivals-and-regional-development-in-australia/ This is a book review that addresses festivals in rural areas, starting from a basis in rural Australia but applicable elsewhere. It sounds like a great book! If I continue down this research path I'll ILL it.
From Amanda: http://www.alaskanative.net/en/main-nav/education-and-programs/youth/high-school-program/
ReplyDeleteHere is a link to a site about a high school program for students to learn about Alaska Native cultures through the Alaska Native Heritage Center. One of the classes is geared toward dance. Students learn dances from all major Alaska Native groups and earn high school credit for it.
http://www.mosquitonet.com/~gcn/summfest.htm
This site lists all of the summer music festivals which occurred in Alaska last summer. Most of these festivals are secular in genre, particularly bluegrass. Additionally, there are links to 3 traditional music festivals: the Alaska Midnight Sun Song Camp in Palmer, the Alaska Traditional Music Camp in Anchorage, and the Richardson Highway Rendezvous in Tonsina. All of these took place in 2009 and were hoping to establish recurring, annual meetings.
http://fairbanks-alaska.com/music-dance-calendar.htm
This site gives details and links to every kind of music performances available in Fairbanks. It lists everything from the Midnight Sun Intertribal Powow to Opera Fairbanks performances. There is access to many types of music and performance arts in Fairbanks, including musical theater, ballroom dance, and traditional dance performances. It also gives a brief description of each organization or event.
http://aftadc.brinkster.net/AEPIV/AK_CityOfFairbanks_AEP4_SummaryOfFindings.pdf
This pdf gives a breakdown of how much the industries of non-profit arts and culture organization spent in the Fairbanks area in 2010. The conclusion is that a large part of the Fairbanks economy is generated by these organizations and their performances. It also lists how much their audiences spent. Total, the industry and its audience spent over $12 million in 2010. It also claims that resident attendees of performance and cultural arts events spend approximately an average of $13.31 per event, and non-residents spend $42.77. It even lists how much government revenue is generated by these organization.
Nifty stuff from Amelia:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nfb.ca/film/cbqm
This is a full-length film about a radio station in rural Northern Canada, and how it affects the community, and how it is the source of pride in the town of 800. (2009)
http://www.nfb.ca/film/cesars_bark_canoe
This is a documentary film from 1971 about building a birch bark canoe the old fashioned way in Quebec. In Cree, English and French.
http://on.aol.com/video/handmade-portraits--the-ivory-carver-from-alaska-517390728
(4 min) Portrait of Inupiaq ivory carver from King island.
Nice link from Tiffany:
ReplyDeleteHere is a website that talks about the different aspects of the Alaskan Native art and dance from the different indegenous groups we have here. This site offers an overview of the different cultures we have and the cultural significance these forms of arts have to the specific culture. I find it very informative and is a great first exposure that eases the reader into Alaskan Native culture.
http://www.echospace.org/articles/285/sections/709.html
Tiffany did some fabulous on-the-spot interviews with attendees at the annual AYP Festival in Ester. Check out the comments here: I interviewed some people at AYP this past weekend. Here is my transcript of the interviews.
ReplyDeleteBill Black
“I’m not young, I’m not poor, but I’m plenty angry.”
Ian Patrick 21 yo
Alexander Bergman 19yo
Gabe Foster 20yo
Phil Glowa 20yo
Collen 22yo
How many years have you come to AYP?
BB: This is third year.
IP: This is the first time.
AB: I believe this is my third year. It’s all sorts of fun.
GF: I don’t even remember.
PG: That would be... seven years
C: This is my third
Why do you come here?
BB: Because I like.... reminds me of the sixties and I like the energy... and it’s free.
Have you gone to any other Alaskan Music Festivals, such as Clucking Blossom?
BB: I didn’t go to Clucking Blossom this year. I’ve gone to the music in the Georgeson Gardens, I’ve gone to the Summer Folk Festival and the Winter Folk Festival.
IP: Ahh... Clucking Blossom I guess
AB: I try to go to whichever ones I can. This is the one that seems to be the largest and most open ended-est of them. I generally end up being able to make it but some of the other ones are a little shorter... I don’t know... I try.
GF: So far it’s only been AYP and Clucking Blossom.
PG: Clucking Blossom, Trapper’s Creek, Anderson, Fishstock....
C: Yeah most of them. I’m thinking about playing a set at College Coffee House soon.
Have you gone to any outside of Fairbanks?
AB: Unfortunately I have not, but I’ve always been interested.
C: I got to Trapper Creek. It’s my favorite. It’s like the most funny, rowdy Alaskan festival. All the crusties come out of Anchorage, the music is freaking wonderful. It’s just an extremely wonderful time.
What do you think is your favorite part about all these community based events?
BB: Music brings people together. I’ve played in a few of these events [with the Skid Marks]. One good thing about the music [at AYP] is that they feature music that doesn’t get to perform at other places.
IP: I don’t think I know it well enough to make a judgement.
AB: I like the change of perspectives I suppose. I like seeing the people and the music, not necessarily represented by my own narrow college bound view of the world. I guess it’s just less ethnocentric even though, of course, I spend my time with my friends while I’m here. It still feels... I don’t know... people watching to a grand scale feels good.
What are your opinions on the local Alaskan music scene?
IP: I think it’s really good. I think there are some really talented people.
AB: It is healthy as far as I know. Socially constructed views are expressed and good people find other good people. I like what they’re doing with the place.
GF: The less I have to do with Alaskan music the better. Don’t like being in Alaska. It’s separated from the rest of the world, so you don’t get a good view of anything. Everything that does come up is filtered through... a couple years of cultural lag. It’s too green. Not enough urbanization.
PG: Fairbank being an isolated place, yet a still unique and some how eclectic bunch of people makes for a pretty interesting music style. The college imports a lot of interesting people. KSUA has a good influence. There’s a lot of different music. It’s like having many different scenes that are all part of the same scene.
C: I really only know Fairbanks scene. I like the Fairbanks, basically the whole DIY type of thing is really big right now. And that’s what Fairbanks already is. It doesn’t need to be established by any means. This is what we do here. It isn’t too special, but it’s wonderful.