This
past week SHI’s Archivist & Collection Manager Zachary R. Jones traveled to
Kake to work with the Organized Village of Kake (OVK) and its Charles “Topsy”
Johnson Tribal Library & Archive. As part of an SNAP grant program
administered by the Alaska State Historical Records Advisory Board (ASHRAB),
the OVK facilitated Jones’ (a member of ASHRAB)
travel to Kake where he met with Dawn Jackson, OVK Operations & Planning
Director, Falen Mills, OVK Language/Archives Department, and as well as Alyssa
Peterson, a Kake community member who is nearing the completion of her Master’s
degree in library and archival science. Together they worked on the important
historical collections held by the OVK. From this venture portions of OVK’s
historical collections were surveyed, boxed, and preserved for future
generations. Established in 1947, the OVK is a federally recognized IRA tribal
government that works to serve the community of Kake, Alaska. The OVK, those working
for the tribal government, and community members of Kake are doing wonderful
and exemplary things in their community, such as using archival Tlingit
language recordings to assist in language and cultural education. The OVK is an
exemplary tribal government working to preserving its historical collections
for present and future generations. It was an honor for Jones to see some of
the excellent work individuals like Dawn, Falen, and Alyssa are doing in one of
Southeast Alaska’s village communities.
Photo
credit: OVK staff Falen Mills holds historic records cared for by the OVK Charles “Topsy” Johnson Tribal Library & Archive,
photo by Zachary R. Jones.
Sealaska Heritage Institute was founded in 1980
to promote cultural diversity and cross-cultural understanding. The institute
is governed by a Board of Trustees and guided by a Council of Traditional
Scholars. Its mission is to perpetuate and enhance Tlingit, Haida, and
Tsimshian cultures of Southeast Alaska.
