 Native Elders and Cultural Teachers Honored For Contributions April 15, 2002
John T. Autrey, an Archaeologist with the U.S.F.S, said Forest Service Archaeologists spend much of their time consulting with knowledgeable individuals within the community, with tribal governments, researching previous work and walking the land locating significant sites, ensuring that the required legal documentation and process is completed, and protecting the sites. The condition of documented sites is monitored to determine changes in their condition through time. Many of these important cultural sites have been damaged from relic collecting and vandalism. The most effective way to understand and protect these irreplaceable resources is through education and interpretation. Through an understanding of the value of these resources and their vulnerability archaeologists hope to convey an appreciation that will provide protection of these resources through public stewardship. Forest Service archaeologists host and participate in a variety of public activities including classroom presentations in the public schools, Archaeology Week programs in the local communities, co-teaching university classes, Passports in Time volunteer projects, and public talks. The "Old Times Revisited" Passport In Time program provides a unique learning opportunity that is offered in cooperation with the University of Alaska Southeast Campus (UAS) and Campus Anthropologist, Dr. Priscilla Schulte and Dr. Dan Montieth, Anthropologist, Juneau Campus. This program, which, began in 1990, provides University credit opportunities designed to increase understanding and participation in the protection of the unique cultural and natural resources within the Tongass National Forest. In the past decade this cooperative program has developed annual field trips, which have formed the core of an academic course offered for credit through the University's Anthropology Department. The trips have often incorporated respected Native elders. Typically the class focuses on a specific geographic area, examining the subsistence resources and discussing land use, past and present. Autrey says the archaeological component of the project typically includes monitoring cultural sites in the vicinity and discussing the relationships between the subsistence economy and the archaeological record. Mapping and site documentation are a common focus, providing a glimpse of the real work of doing archaeology. Students and Passport in Time volunteers represent a wide spectrum of backgrounds that include local students, teachers, physicians, lawyers, visitor industry employees and many other local and national users of the National Forests interested in preserving our heritage resources. Dr. Schulte, Dr. Montieth and Native teachers accompany participants to teach about traditional lifestyles and the many traditional uses of the natural environment for food, shelter and clothing. A wide variety of vegetation and wildlife are identified which have been culturally important through time. Forest Service Archaeologists, John Autrey, Terry Fifield and Martin Stanford provide instruction and guide participants through resource management procedures, which include site monitoring and inventory of areas at a number locations. Heritage and natural resource management discussions provide important insights relating to stewardship of the many known archaeological and historical sites located along the fiords, bays, inlets and islands on the southern Tongass National Forest.
The Southeast Alaska Discover Center offers programs in their theater every Friday from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm. On April 19th, Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Hummingbirds (But Didn't Know Who to Ask) is the featured program as well as one of the planned events of the Alaska Hummingbird Festival. Sheri Williamson, Director/Naturalist, of the Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory will be the guest speaker. She has banded more species of hummingbirds than any other bander in North America and is the author of several magazine articles and two books: A Guide To Attracting and Feeding Hummingbirds; and A Field Guide to Hummingbirds in the Peterson series. From 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm a book signing with Sheri Williamson is scheduled. The Alaska Hummingbird Festival will be held in Ketchikan on April 19th - 21st. This event is co-sponsored by the USDA Forest Service and the Alaska Natural History Association, Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory, and Alaska State Park. There will also be a special program on Saturday, April 20th - The Vera Cruz River of Raptors. Naturalist and raptor enthusiast Tom Wood of the Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory will be the guest speaker. For more information on the Insight programs call 907-228-6220 or visit the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center's web site.
Editor's note: Those honored were unable to attend. Photos are not available. Related Information: Sources:
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