Gratitude felt on the opening day of the Indigenous Market, where artists hope to share their healing through cultural crafts
- Jasz Garrett
- 5 minutes ago
- 3 min read
The annual holiday market aims to increase attendance and vendors further in the coming years
By Jasz Garrett
Juneau Independent
The fourth consecutive Thanksgiving weekend Indigenous Artists and Vendors Holiday Market is growing along with the giving holiday spirit.
The market features more than two dozen Indigenous artists at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. The event offers free public entry throughout Thanksgiving weekend, open from noon to 5 p.m.
“It’s a voice and opportunity to showcase our art and curate it in a concentrated way,” said Tlingit and Haida Indigenous Market organizer Jaime Smith. “The other thing is it’s a good opportunity to keep the art alive. Different genres – the weaving, the carving.”
The market is a way for the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska to help support certified tribal artists. The Certified Tribal Artist Program allows Tlingit and Haida tribal citizens a wide variety of opportunities to feature their work, such as the Tribal Assembly and the biennial Celebration. To participate in the market, certified artists fill out a form. Most of the outreach is through social media or word of mouth.
The market is held in conjunction with one of the community’s largest and most popular events, the annual Juneau Public Market now in its 43rd year. In the future, organizers hope to partner with the well-known holiday gathering. Other ideas by event organizers included adding more vendors with the soon-to-be-expanded EP Hall lobby, scheduled to open Jan. 31.
There were limited artists this year due to the construction – there is usually room for 35 vendors. Along with the more spacious lobby, event organizers hoped to add food trucks to the parking lot in the coming years. Still, market organizer Carley Jackson said there was nonstop foot traffic on Black Friday. She stood at a table serving refreshments courtesy of Sacred Grounds Café, collecting door prize tickets.
“We have a mix of artists – we have people who make T-shirts and beadwork and basketry,” she said. “The fabulous Judy Helegsen and Paula Peterson are from Prince of Wales, Deb O’Gara and her fabulous weaving over there comes from Petersburg, and Pauline Duncan, she’s from Sitka. Everybody else is local.”
Jackson added Southeast Alaska small businesses are selling Chilkat and Ravenstail weaving, jewelry, art, woodwork, medicinal products, and more. Tlingit and Haida’s printing and engraving department, Village House Printing and Engraving, and Aan Hít’s apparel were also featured. Village House vendor Kevin Milton said Village House Printing and Engraving will do live printing for Gallery Walk on Dec. 5 on the third floor of Aan Hít, Tlingit and Haida’s downtown retail store and coffee shop.
“For a lot of our artists, their art is a way of processing through whatever traumas they might have, or to heal from whatever life might have thrown at them,” Jackson said. “It's also a positive outlet. It’s a well-known thing in our traditional community – you put your positivity and love into your art, and that is embodied in the art that you sell or trade or whatever you do with it.”
Gloria Khalil said she felt that positivity and love in the form of a mother-of-pearl necklace on Friday. She strung it around her neck to try on the jewelry made by Renee Culp, an owner of Sugar Bear Alaskan Treasures, and was quickly moved to tears. Her son, Trinidad Contreras, bought it for her as an early Christmas gift.
“I felt the energy of the very, very precious stone,” Khalil said with Christmas music playing behind her in the background. “It was just drawing me. When I put it on, I could feel the healing and the energy of this. It’s going to help heal me – I could feel it in my soul.”
Khalil and Culp embraced.
“That’s what we want our jewelry to create in other people,” Culp said. “That was a rare experience. Really special. Just full of gratitude.”
• Contact Jasz Garrett at jasz@juneauindependent.com or (907) 723-9356.
