Anchorage and the Native Alaskan Cultural CenterJun 10, 2007
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Red Fox and her "kid"
Note: she sent the "kid" into the thicket
Dance troop at the cultural center
| The 10th we went to the Alsakan Native Cutural Center. First thing we saw was a mother fox and her kid just as we were pulling into the parking lot. We learned a great deal while we were there and I will attempt to tell you as much as I can remember. First, the term Eskimo is not a term of endearment. Many Alaska Natives get upset if you call them an Eskimo. There are many different tribes throughout Alaska each with their own name, traditions and culture. The people along the southern coast and inland made log houses much like the Irigois in upstate New York. The coastal people in the north and on the islands dug their homes underground. The whole thing about an igloo (which is the native term for home) that we think of as being made of ice was used for temporary shelter when out hunting. It was meant to get you out of the elements and save you life, not be what you would put in "Town and Country". The picture where the dance troop is showing the backs of their costumes...you are part of 4 families. You are a either a part of the Raven, Eagle, Wolf or the Orcas. If you met someone you liked you first had to find out what family they were with as it was considered like insest to date someone of the same family. There is a picture of a woman with a wonderful smile and a black head-dress...she is the eldest member of the troop and had the most flare when she danced. Each costume was made by the person wearing it. The troop had a great sense of humor, like doing the Hokey Pokey in their language and beat then telling us that they don't dye the fabrics anymore with squid ink to get black, they go to JoAnn's Fabrics. We had a fun tour guide who will be graduating from highschool this year and is going to go to Sacramento State University this fall. I must admit he got the most excited when he told us about his car he's fixing up and making "Cherry". After spending the majority of the day there, we went downtown and enjoy a Musk Ox Philly Steak and a Caribou Burger. Brian adn Lisa went to the Botanical Gardens and later in the day Lisa and I went for a bike ride around a park that had basball games going on, traffic surrounding this park and yet we came around the corner and we rode right into 3 Moose. Fortunately, our brakes work well and there was a local there who told some stuff about moose, like when a moose's fur is up, (much like when a dog's fur is up), is not always about anger but does let you know he is very alert. Of course we didn't have our cameras with us but we did get a good 20 minutes worth of watching before they went off on their way. Brian's menu while Lisa is with us: Day one: orzo pasta salad with grilled vegetables, sundried tomatoed, feta cheese Day two: Lemon Blueberry scones with a lemon glaze, Day Three: Lemon, Asparagus, Mushroom pasta with Asiago Cheese Day Four: A St. Louis Treat of Gooey Butter Cake the list went on like this but its making me hungry again. |
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