News Release Date: August 15, 2023
Contact: NewsMedia@nps.gov
WASHINGTON – The National Park Service (NPS) announced the award of $243,457 today as part of the Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development grant program to the Goldbelt Heritage Foundation based in Juneau, Alaska. This is the first year awards have been administered from this newly established grant program.
“The National Park Service is committed to supporting Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native culture and art programs, including traditional and contemporary expressions of language, history, visual and performing arts, and crafts,” said NPS Director Chuck Sams. “The grant awarded for Daak Yaylatsaak: Push the Boat Out to the Goldbelt Heritage Foundation will provide educational programming and continuation of traditional practices for youth across southeast Alaska.”
The primary activities for Daak Yaylatsaak will be carving two traditional dugout canoes, developing and delivering educational programming on the application of STEM principles in canoe making, and holding the First Annual Inter-Channel Youth Canoe Gathering in 2026 or 2027.
“Goldbelt Heritage Foundation is grateful to the National Park Service for this funding,” said Executive Director Desiree Jackson. “In order to teach, engage, and inspire, GHF is committed to making Tlingit culture accessible and sharable. This funding will help us bring the traditional art of dugout canoe carving to life for our young people and communities. Gunalchéesh!”
The NPS administers the Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development grant program on behalf of the Secretary of the Interior using funds appropriated by Congress. Grants may be awarded for scholarly study of and instruction in Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian traditional and contemporary arts and culture, to establish centers and educational programs that lead to degrees in Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian art and culture programs and establish programs that develop traditional and contemporary arts in the community. Any private, nonprofit organization or institution that primarily serves and represents the Native Hawaiian or Alaska Native communities and is recognized by the governor of Hawaii or the governor of Alaska, as appropriate, is eligible to receive such grants.
