Recapping 2024 Celebration's
Last week was a beautiful exhibition of pride in our shared heritage. Goldbelt staff and interns gathered with hundreds of fellow Celebration 2024 participants at UAS, where we loaded into buses that Goldbelt donated for the occasion. The buses shuttled us to Auke Rec to welcome canoes arriving from throughout the region. It was the beginning of three days filled with art, dancing, singing, storytelling, and celebrating our rich Indigenous culture.
Goldbelt sponsored Everyday Indigenous: A Native Fashion Show, which honored the beauty and creativity of Indigenous and regalia-inspired fashion. The event was a partnership with Goldbelt, Goldbelt Heritage Foundation, and Sealaska Heritage Institute. It was successful by every measure; Centennial Hall was packed with a standing-room-only crowd cheering on familiar faces. Chief Administrative Officer Nadja Kookesh and GHF Board Chair Jacqueline Pata warmly welcomed the audience and introduced our talented designers, including our very own shareholders Barbara Fujimoto and Lisa-Marie Ikonomov. Some of our staff and interns worked backstage, while others ignited cheers as they proudly walked the runway.
We also want to recognize our talented artistic weavers, designers, and sewers who were honored in the juried art show! Congratulations to Onn iss kwah James Johnson, Aanchgwanutk’ Janice Jackson, by Xixtc’ i see Ruby Hughes, Gunashaa Lisa Fisher, Wooshkindein Da.áat Lily Hope, and Saak.adoo Davina (Cole) Drones. We are incredibly proud of these talented Indigenous artists!
We appreciate all our shareholders and descendants who came to our booth to have their portraits taken for Goldbelthistory.com. These photos, capturing many in their regalia and often with large family groups, are being processed for uploading. The booth felt like a family reunion, with a steady stream of stories about beautiful regalia, and Goldbelt history.
From the Canoe Landing to the Grand Exit, our community felt the strong and inspiring presence of Goldbelt and our shareholders. The unity and pride felt throughout the event will continue as we share photos and videos throughout the year. If you missed any part of the weekend, you could relive the moments by watching the footage on Sealaska Heritage Institute’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@SealaskaHeritageInstitute.
Gunalchéesh to everyone who made Celebration 2024 a true reflection of our vibrant and resilient community!