- Alex Wester

Cultural Composites From the Alaska Native Heritage Center

       The Alaska Native Heritage Center is an interactive cultural reservoir.  The center’s main feature is a walk-around exhibit, which contains multiple Native American home replicas.  Each structure is supplied with a Native American belonging to the same tribe as the house.  The guide in the house is happy to answer questions and supply information about the structure or their people.
         Quillawujahhq is a native member of the Nu’pik tribe.  As I was traveling down the small, three foot high tunnel into the native Nu’pik underground home, Quillawujahhq was just finishing speaking to a group of tourists.  When I entered the home she restarted her speech.  The home was circular in shape with the tunnel off to one side.  The guide said there would have been another tunnel in the center used as an escape tunnel. The tunnels are very small to prevent polar bears from entering the home, as the Nu’pik are native to the northern region of Alaska.  Because of that, the Nu’pik rely heavily on seal meat and skins.  There are no native Nu’pik tribes still in existence.
         The next home I entered was called a “long home.” The only section reconstructed was the main living area.  This home and Seal, the home’s guide, are native to the Aleutic tribe.  According to Seal, who was about six feet tall and sporting a ponytail, said the Aleutic were spoiled people.  The Aleutic had huge homes where each family member would have their own living spaces.  The Aleutic ate lots of seal and sea lion, as they were abundant in the area.  The Aleutic were against cooking food, as they believed it was a waste.  Instead, they would dry or smoke their meat.
         After several hours at the Heritage Center, I felt that I had learned much about the Native Alaskan people.  The Heritage Center is an educational experience every Alaskan tourist should visit,