Alaska Native Heritage Center

Alaska Native Heritage Center

Alaska Native Heritage Center is a renown cultural center and museum in Anchorage that I didn't want to miss when I was planning the two weeks trip. Reason? Besides the fact that I am always curious about different cultures, in doing so will make the rest of the trip more meaningful by knowing the history and the native culture. Alaskan Natives are the indigenous people of Alaska, United States of America, such as Iñupiat, Yupik, Aleut, Eyak, Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, and a number of Northern Athabaskan cultures.  

Since the Alaska Native Heritage Center is in Anchorage, I visited the center on the first day. 
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Alaska Native Heritage Center
8800 Heritage Center Drive
Anchorage, Alaska 99504

If you do not have a car during Summer, you can always check out the latest shuttle bus schedule via their official website. During the summer season, ANHC has a complimentary shuttle schedule that runs from various locations.

Alaska Native Heritage Center

They planned their schedule with various event such as the speaker talked about the history, culture, dance move etc. It was rather interactive, they encouraged the audience to ask questions and they answered it professionally. I was lucky to join the audience just moment after it started, very informative and educational. There were other schedules such as small walking tours, native dance etc. 

The speaker explained the Alaskan native culture, history, the dance in an interesting way.

With the background decorated by the Alaska map, it was easy to understand his explanation with the graphic demonstration. Moment after, it was the next schedule - Alaskan Dancing Performance. The same speaker explained in detail on the music instruments, the songs and the dance move along with the stories behind all those. 

Male Dancer, Alaska Native Heritage Center

With all the demonstration of the dances (male dancing, female dancing and group dancing etc), they then invited the audience to the stage to experience it. 

Umiak, the kayak/ boat made from animal skin. If I didn't remember wrongly, this was made from Whale's intestine.

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I chose to walk around randomly to check out the area but you can choose to join the small tour just like the photo above. The advantage of joining a tour (if you manage to catch the schedule, it doesn't run hourly but based on schedule) is to have a tour guide with you. As for my choice, I chose the flexibility to check out the native house, tools and read all necessary information from the displayed boards. 

The whole experience was wonderful, remember to visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center if you are planning your Alaska trip.