Last week, we discussed the work that Sven Haakanson has been doing to repatriate knowledge from the museum to the community (read here). At the time, he was on his way to Cape Alitak on Kodiak Island to teach an angiaaq making workshop to a group of young people. This week, we feature a brief field update and photos Sven sent to the Incluseum.

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Camp on Wednesday morning, Cape Alitak. Photo credit: Sven Haakanson.

Day two and one 3/4 of the way done. Thirteen kits started and amazing weather.  Will have hopefully three finished models tomorrow. Kids thought they were making kayaks and now know they are making angyaat open boats.

So it is a learning curve for all of us. I know this material but our communities don’t as this knowledge disappeared over 100 years ago. This is why museums and communities need to work together in sharing their collections and knowledge together.  While it may appear to be esoteric it teaches our youth about history, building, and more.

A student working. Have the chimes done now to the gunnels and ribs. Photo credit: Sven Haakanson.

Model angiaaq kits. Photo credit: Sven Haakanson.