Current Projects:

By the end of the project, we will possess a storehouse of recorded stories, songs, potlatches and other events that people can listen to and learn from. The digital archive will grow as more people contribute recordings to the collection. Rules for access and use of the archive are being developed by staff and will be approved by our elders.

Ringling Pit Project: Staff is currently working with the State of Alaska’s Office of History & Archaeology and UAF’s Museum of the North to acquire artifacts from the Ringling Pit archeological site near the present-day village of Gulkana.  This 500 to 1000 year-old prehistoric Ahtna site has yielded hundreds of artifacts, and is recognized as one of the most significant copper sites in North America.  The Ahtna Athabascan community recognizes the entire area, including Ringling Pit, as the ancestral location of several sites associated with today’s Gulkana village tribal members. Ahtna oral history is rich with stories—some specific to the area around Ringling Pit--of the ancient copper trade practiced by the Ahtna people up and down the Copper River and beyond.  Once agreement is reached with the State of Alaska and UAF, C’ek’aedi Hwnax hopes to house the artifacts and develop an exhibit to tell this fascinating story.

Future Projects

• Political History of Ahtna People in Land Claims:  Cultural Center plan to conduct eyewitness interviews of people who were participants and keen observers during the formative years of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. 2011 is the 40th anniversary of the passage of this historic legislation. We are very interested in documenting the leadership of the many Ahtna men and women who secured our land and resources for generations to come.

• Ahtna Clan Display: Staff is gathering information for the development of a clan exhibit that explains how the Ahtna clan system works. The goal is to have an exhibit completed in Summer 2010.

• Photo and Paper Archive: Cultural Center staff is taking the first steps in developing a photo and a paper archive, to house the many historic photographs of Ahtna people and the documents important to our history. This project will complement the C’ek’aedi Hwnax Digital Archive, and provide a comprehensive repository for recordings, photographs and written works related to Ahtna people.