Latest news with #Tlingit
CBC
4 days ago
- Business
- CBC
This Tlingit artist has taught 2,000 people to make bentwood boxes. She plans to keep going
Joanne Williams estimates she's taught 2,000 people how to make bentwood boxes. "I actually feel pretty complete, but I'm still going ahead to teach more," said Williams, a Tlingit artist, elder and bentwood knowledge-holder from Atlin, B.C. Bentwood boxes are watertight containers invented by coastal First Nations people. They're made by steaming a plank of wood, bending it into a square and fitting it with a lid and base. Williams was taught to make bentwood boxes as a child by her grandmother, elder Elizabeth Nyman, and has now taught bentwood box-making herself all over the west coast, including Haida Gwaii and Mount Currie. She also hosts weekly culture craft nights for Atlinites with the Taku River Tlingit First Nation. Williams says she's inspired to keep teaching by her grandmother, who asked her to pass the knowledge on to other people. "You're actually not supposed to hold secrets back when you're 60 years old, you're supposed to give everything away," Williams said. Bentwood boxes were traditionally used for all purposes, from carrying household items to storing important regalia. "It would have kept all their food and regalia dry," explained Maurice Ouimette, Williams' husband and business partner. "They're the only peoples in the world that developed this technology." The duo is now planning to launch a new home-based business this fall, selling bentwood box-making kits. They're going to mill the wood themselves to make the kits. They'll also sell supplies for beading, sewing and medicine bags. The duo says this business is not a money-making venture. Most of the profits will be donated. "We're trying to reach as many people in the world as possible," Ouimette said. Williams hopes teachers will use the kits to share with young people – but she says anyone can buy them and become teachers themselves.
CBC
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
Annual language camp in Carcross to revitalize Tlingit language
Tlingit language learners from far and wide gathered in Carcross this week for an annual language camp. Learners of all levels participated in activities ranging from songs to storytelling games. CBC's Marissa Meilleur was there.
Boston Globe
03-07-2025
- Boston Globe
Pioneer Valley escapes, a newly refreshed Queen Elizabeth, and a digital luggage tracker
The Inn's 49 stylish guest rooms and suites offer modern convenience and luxuries — pillow-top mattresses, high-thread-count linens, wireless internet — while maintaining their historic New England charm. (Think wood headboards with posts and ruffled bed skirts matching elegant window treatments.) The onsite restaurant, 30 Boltwood, offers a farm-to-table-inspired menu for alfresco patio or indoor dining experiences. Located on the Amherst Common, the inn is within walking distance to many museums, restaurants, and shops, as well as The Drake, an intimate live performance venue. It also offers easy access for visitors to the colleges of Amherst, Smith, Mount Holyoke, Hampshire, and UMass Amherst. Rates from $374 per night, double occupancy, for summer travel through October. 413-256-8200, Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Be among the first to board Cunard's newly-refreshed Queen Elizabeth, homeporting in Seattle for the first time for voyages to Alaska. Cunard Advertisement THERE: HAIL TO THE QUEEN Be among the first to board Cunard's newly refreshed Queen Elizabeth, homeporting in Seattle for the first time for voyages to Alaska. (June to September, 2025 and 2026 only.) The seven- to 11-night Alaska voyages visit many of the region's memorable ports, including Ketchikan, Glacier Bay National Park, Skagway, Juneau, and Victoria, British Columbia, while soaking in the pristine scenery of Glacier Bay National Park, Hubbard Glacier, and the Inside Passage. Bringing Cunard's luxury services to the region, the ship boasts revitalized signature spaces, elevated Princess and Queens Grills, expansive suites, and added amenities such as butler service and more. Inaugural Alaska guests will be the first to enjoy the new Pavilion Wellness Café, and the Harper's Bazaar Wellness at Sea program featuring three packages of wellness treatments, nutritious smoothies, masterclasses, and a selection of ELEMIS products. Cunard continues its partnership with the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, offering a speaker series with experts sharing insights into the region. Guests can also enjoy a 'Locals Onboard' speaker series, featuring 11 Alaskan speakers, master Tlingit dance group, a Denali expeditionist, and local historians, artists, and photographers. Queen Elizabeth will be heading to Miami in October to start sailings to the Caribbean for fall and winter. Rates from $1,109 per person for a balcony stateroom, based on double occupancy. 800-728-6273, Advertisement Knog's Scout Travel is a digital luggage tag, tracker, and alarm in one. Scout EVERYWHERE: DIGITAL LUGGAGE TRACKER As airlines start limiting carry-on luggage, and checking bags becomes more common, you can protect your belongings and your peace of mind with Knog's Scout Travel, a digital luggage tag, tracker, and alarm in one. This innovative device stores your contact information digitally, accessible via a QR code, allowing you to monitor your belongings 24/7 by using the Apple 'Find My' app. What contact information you share is up to you, and can be updated in real-time via the Knog app. That information is helpful when someone scans the QR code and sees your details. If that occurs, you'll be alerted that your tag has been scanned and their message will be emailed to you; for example, 'Your bag at Boston Logan Airport, carousel six.' To deter someone taking your luggage in a busy café or hotel lobby, the 85db motion-sensitive alarm will trigger with movement of its accelerometer while also setting off an audible alarm on your iPhone when in Bluetooth range. You can also set Trusted Locations, where you can leave an item without receiving a notification. Unlike GPS-based trackers, Scout Travel's compatibility with Apple's 'Find My' app means that after purchase, there are no ongoing subscription fees. Compatible with iOS only. $65, Advertisement NECEE REGIS
NDTV
27-06-2025
- General
- NDTV
Who Was Olga, The Alaska Native Drawing Devotion As Orthodoxy's New Saint
Kwethluk: "St. Olga of Kwethluk, Matushka of All Alaska," as she is officially known, was canonized on June 19 as the first female Orthodox saint from North America. Orthodoxy - the world's second-largest Christian communion -- gained a foothold in the present-day United States with the 18th and 19th century arrival of Russian Orthodox missionaries to what was then the czarist territory of Alaska. While the Orthodox are a small minority within the Christian population in the state and the nation, Alaska is often considered a holy land for the now-independent Orthodox Church in America. Who is St. Olga of Kwethluk? Olga Michael was born in 1916 in Kwethluk, where she resided her entire life with her Yup'ik family and neighbors. The Yup'ik, like the Tlingit, Inupiat and Aleuts, are broadly called Alaska Natives. The town's name is derived from the Yup'ik term for "dangerous river." Her Yup'ik name was Arrsamquq; she was confirmed in the church under the name Olga. Like other villagers, her life followed the seasonal rhythms of subsistence living, preparing food at "fish camps" for preservation and making clothing from animal skins. She married Nicolai Michael, who became an Orthodox priest. They had 13 children, five of whom died in childhood, a tragically familiar occurrence at a time when epidemics were common. Matushka, from the Russian for mother, is a term of respect for Orthodox priest's wives. "Matushka Olga" fulfilled that role of spiritual mother - counseling women who had suffered abuse or griefs such as miscarriage - and she was widely admired for her compassion and piety, often providing other people with food and handmade clothing. Matushka Olga was also a midwife, delivering many children. And when she died of cancer on Nov. 8, 1979, villagers reported that unseasonably warm weather thawed the river ice, enabling people to travel by boat from other villages to her funeral, according to an official church biography. What does her family say? "She was the most prominent adult in my life," recalled Wiz Ruppert, who was raised in Matushka Olga's home from about three to 13, when her grandmother died. "Without her, I think my life would have been so different." Like other family members, Ruppert recalls Olga never raising her voice. "If I had a hard time waking up, she would nudge me, and if I didn't wake up, she would gently carry me to a chair where breakfast was ready," Ruppert recalled. She recalled the fresh bread her grandmother would make, how she patiently taught her how to prepare freshly caught fish, how she would sew fur boots with sealskin soles for others in the community. "Those are really hard to work on," Ruppert recalled. "I would watch her chew the soles so they would be soft enough to sew." How did devotion to St. Olga grow? After her death, devotion to Matushka Olga spread beyond Alaska to Orthodox faithful in distant states and countries. She's often depicted in unofficial icons framed by northern lights, with the words, "God can create great beauty from complete desolation." People began to report encounters with Matushka Olga in sacred dreams and visions, according to the church. One poignant account of a woman who had suffered childhood sexual abuse describes a profoundly healing experience during a prayerful encounter with Olga. In 2023, the groundswell of devotion eventually prompted the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America to approve her "glorification" as a saint. What happens next? Kwethluk, with a population of about 800 and accessible only by boat or small plane, now anticipates receiving pilgrims. The Diocese of Alaska is in the early stages of working with the village on plans and fundraising for a new church, hospitality center and cultural center. "We have gotten some pilgrims already, although not in force yet, but we expect them to come regularly after this summer," said the Rev. Martin Nicolai, a retired priest attached to St. Nicholas Church. "People who venerate her as a saint will want to come and pray beside her relics." How are saints formally recognised? Orthodox have a similar process to Catholics in determining saints. It begins with grassroots devotion. Eventually petitions reach the highest authority - in Orthodoxy, a synod of bishops; in Catholicism, the pope - to make the determination. Sainthood becomes official with a service of canonization or glorification. There are multiple Orthodox jurisdictions in the United States and internationally. They generally recognize each other's saints. Why is Alaska considered an Orthodox holy land? Several Orthodox monks and martyrs with ties to Alaska are already recognized as saints by the Orthodox Church in America, the now-independent offspring of the Russian Orthodox Church. Pilgrims come to Alaska to venerate their relics at their shrines. St. Olga is the third with Alaska Native heritage recognized by the Orthodox Church in America, following the 19th century St. Peter the Aleut and St. Yakov Netsvetov of Alaska, who was of Aleut and Russian heritage. Most of the state's Orthodox priests, serving about 80 parishes, are Alaska Natives. More than a dozen priests have come from Kwethluk. How are Orthodox churches organised? Eastern Orthodox churches trace their roots to the beginning of Christianity. Several are self-governing, with their leaders considered equals, and they share beliefs and sacraments while cooperating in charitable and other activities. In the United States, organizational lines are rooted in the national backgrounds of various ethnic groups, such as the Orthodox Church in America (with roots in Russian Orthodoxy) and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. But many U.S. churches now have members of varied ancestries, and cooperate through the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops.
Hamilton Spectator
26-06-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Who was Olga, the Alaska Native drawing devotion as Orthodoxy's new saint?
KWETHLUK, Alaska (AP) — 'St. Olga of Kwethluk, Matushka of All Alaska,' as she is officially known, was canonized on June 19 as the first female Orthodox saint from North America. Orthodoxy — the world's second-largest Christian communion — gained a foothold in the present-day United States with the 18th and 19th century arrival of Russian Orthodox missionaries to what was then the czarist territory of Alaska. While the Orthodox are a small minority within the Christian population in the state and the nation, Alaska is often considered a holy land for the now-independent Orthodox Church in America. Who is St. Olga of Kwethluk? Olga Michael was born in 1916 in Kwethluk, where she resided her entire life with her Yup'ik family and neighbors. The Yup'ik, like the Tlingit, Inupiat and Aleuts, are broadly called Alaska Natives. The town's name is derived from the Yup'ik term for 'dangerous river.' Her Yup'ik name was Arrsamquq; she was confirmed in the church under the name Olga. Like other villagers, her life followed the seasonal rhythms of subsistence living, preparing food at 'fish camps' for preservation and making clothing from animal skins. She married Nicolai Michael, who became an Orthodox priest. They had 13 children, five of whom died in childhood, a tragically familiar occurrence at a time when epidemics were common. Matushka, from the Russian for mother, is a term of respect for Orthodox priest's wives. 'Matushka Olga' fulfilled that role of spiritual mother — counseling women who had suffered abuse or griefs such as miscarriage — and she was widely admired for her compassion and piety, often providing other people with food and handmade clothing. Matushka Olga was also a midwife, delivering many children. And when she died of cancer on Nov. 8, 1979, villagers reported that unseasonably warm weather thawed the river ice, enabling people to travel by boat from other villages to her funeral, according to an official church biography. What does her family say? 'She was the most prominent adult in my life,' recalled Wiz Ruppert, who was raised in Matushka Olga's home from about three to 13, when her grandmother died. 'Without her, I think my life would have been so different.' Like other family members, Ruppert recalls Olga never raising her voice. 'If I had a hard time waking up, she would nudge me, and if I didn't wake up, she would gently carry me to a chair where breakfast was ready,' Ruppert recalled. She recalled the fresh bread her grandmother would make, how she patiently taught her how to prepare freshly caught fish, how she would sew fur boots with sealskin soles for others in the community. 'Those are really hard to work on,' Ruppert recalled. 'I would watch her chew the soles so they would be soft enough to sew.' How did devotion to St. Olga grow? After her death, devotion to Matushka Olga spread beyond Alaska to Orthodox faithful in distant states and countries. She's often depicted in unofficial icons framed by northern lights, with the words, 'God can create great beauty from complete desolation.' People began to report encounters with Matushka Olga in sacred dreams and visions, according to the church. One poignant account of a woman who had suffered childhood sexual abuse describes a profoundly healing experience during a prayerful encounter with Olga. In 2023, the groundswell of devotion eventually prompted the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America to approve her 'glorification' as a saint. What happens next? Kwethluk, with a population of about 800 and accessible only by boat or small plane, now anticipates receiving pilgrims. The Diocese of Alaska is in the early stages of working with the village on plans and fundraising for a new church, hospitality center and cultural center. 'We have gotten some pilgrims already, although not in force yet, but we expect them to come regularly after this summer,' said the Rev. Martin Nicolai, a retired priest attached to St. Nicholas Church. 'People who venerate her as a saint will want to come and pray beside her relics.' How are saints formally recognized? Orthodox have a similar process to Catholics in determining saints. It begins with grassroots devotion. Eventually petitions reach the highest authority — in Orthodoxy, a synod of bishops; in Catholicism, the pope — to make the determination. Sainthood becomes official with a service of canonization or glorification. There are multiple Orthodox jurisdictions in the United States and internationally. They generally recognize each other's saints. Why is Alaska considered an Orthodox holy land? Several Orthodox monks and martyrs with ties to Alaska are already recognized as saints by the Orthodox Church in America, the now-independent offspring of the Russian Orthodox Church. Pilgrims come to Alaska to venerate their relics at their shrines. St. Olga is the third with Alaska Native heritage recognized by the Orthodox Church in America, following the 19th century St. Peter the Aleut and St. Yakov Netsvetov of Alaska, who was of Aleut and Russian heritage. Most of the state's Orthodox priests, serving about 80 parishes, are Alaska Natives. More than a dozen priests have come from Kwethluk. How are Orthodox churches organized? Eastern Orthodox churches trace their roots to the beginning of Christianity. Several are self-governing, with their leaders considered equals, and they share beliefs and sacraments while cooperating in charitable and other activities. In the United States, organizational lines are rooted in the national backgrounds of various ethnic groups, such as the Orthodox Church in America (with roots in Russian Orthodoxy) and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. But many U.S. churches now have members of varied ancestries, and cooperate through the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
