About
SHI develops curricula resources for teachers to use in classes, as studies have shown Native children do better academically when their culture and world view is reflected in school. We encourage educators to use our resources whenever possible.
Box of Knowledge Series
SHI’s Box of Knowledge Series consists of essays, reports, and books that the institute considers should be made available as a contribution to studies on Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian cultures, history, and languages. They may be based on work carried out by researchers working in collaboration with SHI, contributions prepared by external experts, and work by staff.
This five-volume, award-winning series is the life work of Tlingit scholar Nora Dauenhauer and Tlingit linguist Richard Dauenhauer. Together, they documented Tlingit oral histories, language, and life stories, leaving behind a profound legacy for current and future generations.
Celebration: Dancing On the Land
Celebration: Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian Dancing on the Land features the work of noted Alaska photographer Bill Hess and includes images from the first Celebrations to present-day festivals. It is both an introduction to Native cultures and a keepsake for the people who have participated in Celebration.
The Tlingit in Sitka
Lured north by the Klondike gold rush, Elbridge W. Merrill settled in Sitka, Alaska, and took up a career as a professional photographer. Merrill developed a good rapport with the town’s Indigenous Tlingit community, and his images of the Tlingit provide an invaluable historical and ethnographic record of their daily lives, religious life, and art. Illustrated with 150 images, The Tlingit in Sitka invites readers to discover images of Tlingit life in early colonial history and the artist who dedicated his life to recording it.
Minutes of the 1920 ANB Convention
Printed minutes from the historic 1920 Alaska Native Brotherhood Convention in Wrangell, Alaska. Revisit the birth of the Alaska Native Rights Movement 100 years later.
Formline Design Art Kit
Formline design is part of a living culture and integral to the lifeways of the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian. In this project, we give students an introduction to formline design shapes and definitions, the importance of balance in the design form, and to ways an experienced Native artist would compose a formline design. We then provide them with tools to create their formline design.
Tlingit Wood Carving
SHI published the three-book series Tlingit Wood Carving, which includes step-by-step instructions on how to make a traditional Tlingit tray, hat, and mask. Learn the ancient Tlingit tradition of wood carving with artist Richard A. Beasley. You’ll also learn how to inlay abalone and opercula into the wood. Learn techniques used for millennia by some of the world’s most accomplished artists—the Tlingit of Southeast Alaska.
