Hometown, Alaska - Alaska Public Media

Taquka’aq B-Duk Took Drum Group at the Alaska Native Heritage Center (Jeff Chen/Alaska Public Media)

Since 1990, federal, state, and local governments have recognized November as Native Heritage Month to celebrate and honor America’s Indigenous Peoples. November is such an interesting time for Native peoples, though, as it is right after Halloween when folks still commonly dress up in stereotypical Native costumes, and it is also when Thanksgiving happens, a holiday that is fraught with many problematic portrayals of history and Native Peoples. In this episode, we talk about these and many other relevant issues pertaining to Native Heritage Month.

HOST:

E.J. David

GUESTS:

Ayyu Qassataq is Iñupiaq from Uŋalaqłiq, currently residing on Dena’ina lands in Dgheyey Kaq’ with her four children. She is an activist for the self-determination of Alaska Native peoples, and currently serves as the Vice President & Indigenous Operations Director for First Alaskans Institute. She works closely with the leadership team to center Indigenous knowledge and wisdom, amplify the self-determination of Native peoples and unify the collective strength of our community. Recognizing a shared responsibility to contribute our individual gifts for the betterment of our community, Ayyu works to advance healing, awareness, and advocacy around the challenges and opportunities that face our Native communities.

Samuel Johns is Ahtna and Gwich’in Athabascan with family from Copper Center and Arctic Village. Sam has lived in Anchorage with his family since 2005. Sam, also known as AK Rebel, is a rapper, father, motivational speaker and performer. Among the many things he has done in the community is starting “Forget-me-not”, a group that reconnects homeless individuals with their families, friends, and culture

Sondra Shaginoff-Stuart is Ahtna Dene of the taltsiine (water clan) and Pyramid Lake Paiute of the cui-ui ticutta (fish-eaters). Sondra is a Tribal citizen of Chickaloon Native Village. Sondra is wife and mother of three wonderful men and she currently lives at Kahtnu (Kenai). Sondra is a standing committee member on the Kenaitze Indian Tribe’s Education Committee. Even though she is a language learner, she would like to develop ways for the Ahtna language to grow in our communities and the world. She hopes to honor her family and ancestors by sharing what she has learned, especially with the younger generations. Sondra graduated with a Masters degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. Her project was focused on task-based language teaching which you teach Native language through cultural projects. She is currently the Chair of the Alaska Native Studies Department at UAA.

LINKS:

UAA Alaska Native Studies

First Alaskans Institute

PARTICIPATE:

• Call 550-8433 (Anchorage) or 1-888-353-5752 (statewide) during the live broadcast (10-11 a.m.)
• Send e-mail to [email protected] before, during or after the live broadcast (E-mails may be read on air).
• LIVE (RECORDED) : Monday, November 1, 2021 at 10 a.m.
• RE-AIR: Monday, November 1, 2021 at 8 p.m.

Cosplayers at Senshi Con, Alaska’s largest fandom convention, spent the day as their favorite comic book and anime characters last weekend at the Dena’ina Center. (Photo by Ammon Swenson)

In Alaska pop culture and entertainment serve as a means to escape the dark, chilly winters that conquer the final months of each year. The politics and popularity of film, comic, game, and novel franchises have brought folks together in ways we did not know possible, bringing a sense of irony to the isolated Last Frontier.

HOST:

Justin Williams

GUESTS:

Braxton Bundick, director of Senshi Con

Stephanie Cabiness, registered nurse by day and the Queen and President of Amtgard of Alaska by night

PARTICIPATE:

• Call 550-8433 (Anchorage) or 1-888-353-5752 (statewide) during the live broadcast (10-11 a.m.)
• Send e-mail to [email protected] before, during or after the live broadcast (E-mails may be read on air).
• LIVE (RECORDED) : Monday, October 25, 2021 at 10 a.m.
• RE-AIR: Monday, October 25, 2021 at 8 p.m.

The Tagiumiut Dancers perform at the 2019 Alaska Federation of Natives Conference at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks. (Zachariah Hughes/Alaska Public Media)

Indigenous Peoples’ Day strikes the intersection of beauty and triumph, controversy and pain. Many have fought to reclaim its purpose and name from Columbus, to the people of the land he claimed to discover.

The history of this day has shown the power of the voices of the marginalized as we largely no longer recognize this day as Columbus Day. South Dakota became the first state to recognize what was then called “Native Americans’ Day” in 1990. The earliest known date of the celebration is in 1792 and it became a national holiday in 1934, and federal holiday in 1971, and considering those dates you can feel how recent of a change this is.

As it pertains to Alaska, what does Indigenous Peoples’ Day truly mean?

Listen to our latest episode of Hometown Alaska:

HOST:

Justin Williams

GUESTS:

Lisa Wade

Meda Dewitt

LINKS:

• Recover Alaska resources and frequently asked questions
• Anchorage Health Department substance misuse resources
• Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Office of Substance Misuse and Addiction Prevention

PARTICIPATE:

• Call 550-8433 (Anchorage) or 1-888-353-5752 (statewide) during the live broadcast (10-11 a.m.)
• Send e-mail to [email protected] before, during or after the live broadcast (E-mails may be read on air).
• Post your comment or question below (Comments may be read on air).
• LIVE (RECORDED) : Monday, October 11, 2021 at 10 a.m.
• RE-AIR: Monday, October 11, 2021 at 8 p.m.

The month of October has been recognized by the U.S. Congress and by several state legislatures as Filipino American History Month, to celebrate the long history of Filipinos in the United States. When we think about Filipino Americans, however, the states that people most easily think of are California and Hawaii; very few think of Alaska. But Filipino Alaskans have just as long and just as rich of a history as any other Filipino American community.

On this week’s episode of Hometown Alaska, we’re focusing on Filipino Alaskan history, along with Filipino Alaskans’ many achievements and contributions, because Filipino Alaskan history is Alaskan history, and Filipino American history is American history.

HOST: E.J David

GUESTS:

Marie Husa: Marie was born in Manila, Philippines and has been an Alaskan since 1984. She is an investigator for the Anchorage Equal Rights Commission, investigating discrimination complaints. She holds a Masters degree in counseling psychology from Alaska Pacific University and is a licensed professional career and life coach. She is a past president and board member of the Alaska Federation of Filipino Americans. She lives in Anchorage with her husband of 26 years; they have 2 daughters – one attending law school in Seattle University and one studying Business and Psychology at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

Dr. Gabriel Garcia: Dr. Garcia is a Philippine-born, Alaska-grown Professor of Public Health at the University of Alaska Anchorage. He completed his PhD in Public Health with a minor in Anthropology at UCLA. His research interests include Filipino health and experience, racial and ethnic health disparities, and Asian and Pacific Islander health. He is also the Coordinator of UAA’s Master of Public Health Program. Dr. Garcia is the recipient of many awards, including the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Community Service, Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Diversity, and the Center for Community Engagement & Learning’s Community Builder Award. Dr. Garcia, along with a group of UAA faculty and students, were awarded the UAA’s Stewardship Award in 2014 and American Lung Association in Alaska’s Breathe Easy Champion Award in 2015 for the group’s successful effort in making the University of Alaska system smoke and tobacco-free. In 2015, Dr. Garcia was appointed as one of the health commissioners of the Anchorage Health Department.

LINK:

Filipino American National Historical Society

PARTICIPATE:

• Call 550-8433 (Anchorage) or 1-888-353-5752 (statewide) during the live broadcast (10-11 a.m.)
• Send e-mail to [email protected] before, during or after the live broadcast (E-mails may be read on air).
• LIVE (RECORDED) : Monday, October 4, 2021 at 10 a.m.
• RE-AIR: Monday, October 4, 2021 at 8 p.m.

(Image from Flickr)

Addiction and recovery are two sides of a heavy coin. September is National Recovery Month, so this week on Hometown Alaska, we’ll learn how substance addiction contributes to recidivism and how to celebrate recovery and support sobriety and sober-curious lifestyles.

HOST:

Justin Williams

GUEST:

” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Sarah Crum, Alaska Addiction Rehabilitation Services

LINKS:

• Recover Alaska resources and frequently asked questions
• Anchorage Health Department substance misuse resources
• Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Office of Substance Misuse and Addiction Prevention

PARTICIPATE:

• Call 550-8433 (Anchorage) or 1-888-353-5752 (statewide) during the live broadcast (10-11 a.m.)
• Send e-mail to [email protected] before, during or after the live broadcast (E-mails may be read on air).
• Post your comment or question below (Comments may be read on air).
• LIVE (RECORDED) : Monday, September 27, 2021 at 10 a.m.
• RE-AIR: Monday, September 27, 2021 at 8 p.m.

Jeff Bumagat-Hidalgo, co-owner-manager at Jeepney Filipino Hawaiian Fusion Food, prepares an order of butter garlic shrimp on a weekday afternoon in April. (Jeff Chen/Alaska Public Media)

Alaska’s food and restaurant culture is a massive and ever-shifting adhesive for the local economy, serving and effecting both customers and business owners alike. But why is it so crucial? And how are local restaurant and food truck owners riding the wave back to success during COVID? Join host, Justin Williams, with two champions of the local restaurant community to discuss our food culture here in Alaska.

HOST: Justin Williams

GUESTS:

• Sheena Goughnour, Owner of Gelatte
• Jason Anderson, Owner of MELT

LINKS:

• MELT website
• MELT Facebook
• Gelatte website
• Gelatte Facebook

PARTICIPATE:

• Call 550-8433 (Anchorage) or 1-888-353-5752 (statewide) during the live broadcast (10-11 a.m.)
• Send e-mail to [email protected] before, during or after the live broadcast (E-mails may be read on air).
• Post your comment or question below (Comments may be read on air).
• LIVE (RECORDED) : Monday, September 20, 2021 at 10 a.m.
• RE-AIR: Monday, September 20, 2021 at 8 p.m.
• PODCAST: Available on this page after the program.

Cover of Welcoming Anchorage’s roadmap manual. (Courtesy of Welcoming Anchorage)

Alaska’s ethnic and cultural diversity has grown significantly as more immigrants and refugees make Alaska their home. How are new Alaskans adjusting? How can the government help in their transition? What are the ways through which immigrants and refugees enrich Alaska? Join host E.J. David for conversation about a collaborative community project called “Untapped Talent.”

HOST: E.J. David

GUESTS:

• Nyabony Gat, Health Education Coordinator with Southcentral Alaska AHEC & APCA, focusing on workforce development of community health workers and integrated health career pathways for the ESL population. In addition, she is a Program Coordinator for the Peer Leader Navigator Program at Alaska Literacy Program which focuses on health outreach, connection and navigating healthcare and social services. She received a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences from UAA in 2019 and is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®). She is very passionate and driven to work on immigrant and refugee integration and addressing issues of health equity through community-based efforts.
• Dr. Amana Mbise, Assistant Professor of Social Work in the School of Social Work at UAA. He has over ten years’ experience in social work, global health and community development in three countries: Tanzania, Denmark, and the U.S. His research interests are around immigration, human trafficking and rights-based approaches to social work. This research has so far focused on integration and inclusion of immigrants and refugees in Alaska, human trafficking and labor exploitation, and the rights of children.
• Dr. Sara Buckingham, Dr. Sara Buckingham, Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Her research examines the intersection of culture and wellbeing among people whose cultures have been oppressed alongside multilevel strategies for creating more welcoming, inclusive spaces. She is a licensed psychologist who specializes in multilingual culturally-congruent psychological services for forced migrants, including refugees and asylum-seekers.
• Dr. Tzu-Chiao Chen, Assistant Professor of Communication at UAA. His teaching and research areas are in intercultural communication, interpersonal communication, conflict and negotiation, and research methods. Before joining UAA, he taught at an American University in Kuwait for two years. Experiencing the cultural differences is his main goal for traveling.

LINKS:

Welcoming Anchorage Roadmap

“Creating a more welcoming city through research”

PARTICIPATE:

• Call 550-8433 (Anchorage) or 1-888-353-5752 (statewide) during the live broadcast (10-11 a.m.)
• Send e-mail to [email protected] before, during or after the live broadcast (E-mails may be read on air).
• Post your comment or question below (Comments may be read on air).
• LIVE: Monday, September 13, 2021 at 10 a.m.
• RE-AIR: Monday, September 13, 2021 at 8 p.m.
• PODCAST: Available on this page after the program.

This cover of the new “Alaska Women Speak” anthology is artwork by Teresa Ascone that first graced the cover of the WINTER 2014 journal.

Ember Press, a Palmer-based small independent publisher specializing in Alaska non-fiction, adventure, conservation and history, has just released an anthology collecting the first 25 years of the journal “Alaska Women Speak,” from 1992 to 2017.

The journal is still publishing today. Find out more about the contemporary journal here.

But this week’s Hometown Alaska program is focused on the new anthology. Our guests are its editors, MaryLee Hayes and Angie Slingluff. Both also served as managing editors for the journal for chunks of years while they also held down jobs and busy lives.

The work that went into the journal all those many years was done by volunteers. So MaryLee’s eight years as managing editor (1994-2003) and Angie’s 17 years (1997-2014) were unpaid labors of love, as was their time and energy spent pulling together the new anthology.

So what’s in here? The voices of Alaska women.

Their poetry and stories, their artwork and photographs. Tales of their worries, their triumphs, their learning, their adventures, their changing. Many names will be familiar: Nancy Lord, Joanne Townsend, both writer or poet laureates for the state of Alaska. Libby Roderick, Arliss Sturgulewski, Amy Bollenbach, Diane Barske, Diana Tillion, Carol Holt, Mei Mei Evans, Ann Chandonnet, Elise Patkotak, Jane Angvik, Sarah Juday, Sarah James of Arctic Village, Rhonda McBride, Monica Devine, Susan Morgan. And outdoor adventurers like Karen Jettmar, Rachel (Suraj) Holzwarth, Dr. Beth Baker. And many more.

Others were written about by the staff or contributors: Susan Butcher, Dee Dee Jonrowe, Gail Niebregge, Lela Kiana Oman, Fran Ulmer, Lorene Harrison, Elizabeth Peratrovich, community organizer Shirley Mae Springer Staten, Eyak speaker Marie Smith, conservation activist Celia Hunter, Alaska Native healer Rita Blumenstein. Even singer Judy Collins when she performed in Alaska.

We’ll learn from our two editors how “Alaska Women Speak” got started and why. What philosophy or values guided it through the years. Were there rough spots? How does it feel to look back now and see the fruit of their labors? What does it offer Alaska readers today?

As always, listeners are invited into this conversation. If you submitted to the journal, or read its stories and poems and enjoyed its art, give us a call at 550-8433. We’d love to hear from you.

HOST: Kathleen McCoy

GUESTS:

• MaryLee Hayes, anthology co-editor, journal managing editor 1994-2003.
• Angie Slingluff, anthology co-editor, journal managing editor 1997-2014.

LINKS:

• Alaska Women Speak, journal website
• KTOO, Juneau Afternoon program interview of MaryLee Hayes and Angie Slingluff by journalist Rhonda McBride
• Ember Press website

PARTICIPATE:

• Call 550-8433 (Anchorage) or 1-888-353-5752 (statewide) during the live broadcast (10-11 a.m.)
• Send e-mail to [email protected] before, during or after the live broadcast (E-mails may be read on air).
• Post your comment or question below (Comments may be read on air).
• LIVE: Monday, August 30, 2021 at 10 a.m.
• RE-AIR: Monday, August 30, 2021 at 8 p.m.
• PODCAST: Available on this page after the program.

‘One Headlight’ by Matt Caprioli and ‘Pluto Cove’ by Arran Forbes.

UPDATE: Writer Matt Caprioli, featured in this episode, has changed his last name to Frye Castillo. His website can be found here.

Hometown Alaska is back after its short summer hiatus, and we return Aug. 23 at 10 am with a program featuring two Alaska writers with first books.

In the first half of the program, we’ll meet Matt Caprioli, author of “One Headlight,” a memoir of growing up gay in Alaska, a story that captures his restlessness but also his close ties and resilient relationship with his supportive single mother. Caprioli is a graduate of UAA with degrees in English literature and psychology, as well as an MFA in creative nonfiction from Hunter College at the City University of New York. He is a lecturer in professional writing at Lehman College at the City University of New York. He describes himself as “a Queens-based writer by way of Anchorage, Alaska.” He is published by Cirque Press, which grew out of the literary journal, Cirque, featuring the work of writers from the North Pacific Rim.

Here’s a response to “One Headlight” from Chelsea News in New York:

…“One Headlight” is an inspirational story of resilience and fortitude, as well as learning to appreciate those who have supported you — even in their flawed and perhaps unconventional ways. Matt Caprioli has found success these days because along the way he experienced two things: the always-welcoming energy of New York and momentous power in a quiet drive with those one loves.”

In the second half of the program, we’ll meet Arran Forbes, who has created a fantastical look at a dystopian Alaska of the future. Climate change and the lack of water is the story catalyst, as too-familiar disinformation campaigns manipulate a distressed and uncertain public. Forbes says she was less focused on writing a post-apocalyptic, dystopian tale than a realistic assessment of the challenges ahead of us. She considers the book magical realism.

The mother of two started the novel after her second child was born on the Winter Solstice. She considers the work her “path out of postpartum.”

“We have our feet to the fire right now,” she told the Bend, Oregon community newspaper, The Bulletin. “There’s a mounting sense of pressure over resources and the climate,” she said. “Especially for me, I wrote this as a new mom, and I have this new little human in my arms. And wondering about her world is a big part of where this came from.”

Forbes grew up in Anchorage and Bend, graduated from Dartmouth College and earned her nursing degree from UAA. She currently works in the NICU unit at Providence Hospital. She was a recipient of the “40 Under 40” honor for 2021 by Alaska Business Monthly and she is president of Arctic Entries.

Join me to learn more about these two young Alaskans, Matt Caprioli and Arran Forbes: Where did their ideas come from? How and when do they write? When did they know they had a book? How do they feel about editing? What advice do they have for other emerging writers? How do they handle a bad day?

As always, your questions and comments are always welcome.

HOST: Kathleen McCoy

GUESTS:

• Arran Forbes, author of “Pluto Cove,” “Top 40 Under 40” recipient for 2021, NICU nurse, mother of two.
• Matt Caprioli, author of “One Headlight,” now a lecturer in professional writing at Lehman College, City University of New York.

LINKS:

• Matt Frye Castillo website, with blog and events.
• ‘From Alaska to the Apple,’ Chelsea News, 8.3.21
• “Pluto Cove” on Amazon, website
• “Summit High grad Forbes pens thriller ‘Pluto Cove,'” The Bulletin of Bend, Oregon 7.1.21
• ‘Top 40 Under 40,” Alaska Journal of Commerce, 4,16.21

PARTICIPATE:

• Call 550-8433 (Anchorage) or 1-888-353-5752 (statewide) during the live broadcast (10-11 a.m.)
• Send e-mail to [email protected] before, during or after the live broadcast (E-mails may be read on air).
• Post your comment or question below (Comments may be read on air).
• LIVE: Monday, August 23, 2021 at 10 a.m.
• RE-AIR: Monday, August 23, 2021 at 8 p.m.
• PODCAST: Available on this page after the program.

The Juneteenth flag was raised on June 11, 2021, at Anchorage City Hall. (Jeff Chen/Alaska Public Media)

Juneteenth has been called America’s second Independence Day. But surveys show only about half of Americans know what Juneteenth is.

What exactly is Juneteenth? Why is it important, and how should it be celebrated?

With community leaders Jasmin Smith and Dino Allen, we will discuss Juneteenth’s history and modern-day significance on the next episode of Hometown Alaska.

HOST: E.J. David

GUESTS:

• Jasmin Smith is lifelong Alaskan business owner, community activist, and event planner. In addition to running Umoja Coworking, a business services space dedicated to empowering underrepresented entrepreneurs by supporting culture, collaboration, community and events; and Baby Vend LLC, she is the proud mother to six-year-old twins. She’s been a very active leader in the community and she has planned Anchorage Juneteenth celebrations for the past four years.
• Dino Allen came to Alaska in 1989 with a background in US. Army-Personnel Management. He’s a small business owner and President of D&D Productions, Inc., delivering entertainment to Anchorage in the form of comedy, music, and more. Dino managed Juneteenth celebrations on the Anchorage Park strip from 1993-2002. Currently, he provides advice to small business owners and entrepreneurs. He’s married to Hyacintha Allen, and they have two kids and one new grandson.

LINKS:

• http://juneteenthanchorage.com/

PARTICIPATE:

• Call 550-8433 (Anchorage) or 1-888-353-5752 (statewide) during the live broadcast (2 to 3 p.m.)
• Send e-mail to [email protected] before, during or after the live broadcast (E-mails may be read on air).
• Post your comment or question below (Comments may be read on air).
• LIVE: Monday, June 7, 2021 at 10 a.m.
• RE-AIR: Monday, June 7, 2021 at 8 p.m.
• PODCAST: Available on this page after the program.