News
AkAA Anti-Harassment Policy Training
Please click here for a copy of the presentation from the 47th annual meeting on our anti-harassment policy and how to prevent and respond to harassment. Thanks to STAR for facilitating!
Help save the UAA Master of Arts degree in Anthropology!
Many of the AkAA members already know, but for those who don’t, the MA program in Anthropology at UAA is in jeopardy. The Dean has made a recommendation to delete the MA program in Anthropology at UAA. The BA/BS degrees are recommended for continuation. Alumni and friends of the department have stepped time and again over the last five years to support our program by writing letters and testifying before the Board of Regents and we appreciate your efforts. This time the situation is more dire and the UA budget will be cut by 70 million dollars of State support over the next three years. The loss of the MA program may be a consequence of this. The department submitted on February 28 our response to this decision – they are united in wanting to fight this decision and save the MA program for continuance in the future, once the budget crisis is over. UAA is asking that rather than deleting the MA program, the university suspend it so it can be re-established when conditions are more favorable.
The process will go through several steps. The Provost will review the recommendations from the Dean of our college and submit his findings to Chancellor Sandeen on March 9. There is a period from March 9 to March 18 for feedback, then the Chancellor makes her decision on March 23. This process will be finalized through a meeting of the Board of Regents on June 4/5.
So what can you do to help? UAA department of anthropology faculty are asking that you send letters of support by March 9 to Chancellor Sandeen (with a copy to the anthropology department) describing how their applied program is unique to Alaska, and our place and importance within the anthropological community. Chancellor Sandeen’s address is: University of Alaska Anchorage, 3211 Providence Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508. You can also email her at uaa_chancellor@alaska.edu (
Call for 2021 conference host site!
Passing of artist Ron Senungetuk
Artist Ronald Senungetuk of Homer died on Tuesday, January 21, 2020 after a long illness. Ron Senungetuk was Inupiat, a sculptor, silversmith and wood carver of massive cultural influence as an artist, educator and mentor. Click here for more…
Passing of Alan Boraas
November 4, 2019
Alan Boraas died early this morning from a stroke at Providence Hospital in Anchorage. He passed peacefully with family by his side. We will remember his rich life and tireless work to make our world a better place.
Renew your AkAA memberships now!
As you may know, our fiscal year begins on October 1, so many of you may need to renew your memberships now!
International Archaeology Day
Respected Alaska Native elder Howard Luke dies
Fairbanks, Alaska (AP) – A family member says Alaska Native community elder Howard Luke has died in Fairbanks.
The 95-year-old member of the Interior Alaska Native community died around 11:30 p.m. Saturday at the city’s Denali Center.
Mo MacCracken, Luke’s daughter, confirmed his death. The respected Athabascan elder was known for promoting Alaska indigenous culture through his work with young people.
A building at the Effie Kokrine Charter School in Fairbanks was named in his honor. Luke founded a camp for Alaska youth to learn skills including Native art and language and techniques for living off the land.
MacCracken says the Gaalee’ya Spirit Camp on the Tanana River near Fairbanks will remain open for community building, youth empowerment and educational opportunities.
http://www.kinyradio.com/news/news-of-the-north/respected-alaska-native-elder-howard-luke-dies/
Michael Edward Krauss Obituary
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/newsminer/obituary.aspx?n=michael-edward-krauss&pid=193694793
Historic Properties Specialist Workshop
This upcoming training is to certify cultural resource professionals as Historic Properties Specialists, the cultural resource personnel activated to advise On-Scene Coordinators on historic properties protection during oil spill and hazardous materials responses.
The 2019 Historic Properties Specialist Workshop training is being organized by personnel from: the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service – Southeast Archeological Center, Cultural Resources, Partnerships and Science Directorate, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Directorate, and the Alaska Regional Office, Cultural Resources Program; the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance; and the Alaska Office of History and Archaeology.
The HPS Workshop agenda is still being finalized. The content is expected to include:
- National Historic Preservation Act – Section 106 Process Overview
- 1997 Programmatic Agreement on Protection of Historic Properties During Emergency Response Under the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan
- Alaska Implementation Guidelines for Federal On-Scene Coordinators for the Programmatic Agreement on Protection of Historic Properties During Emergency Response Under the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan
- Oil Spill Response for Cultural Resource Professionals
- Incident Command System
- Psychology of Response – Critical Incident Stress Management
- Shoreline Cleanup and Assessment Technique and Field Monitoring
- Case Studies – Historic Properties and Spill Response
- Landownership – Complexities and Consultation
- Regional and Area Contingency Planning
- On-Scene Coordinator Perspectives
- Alaska Native Perspectives
- Alaska Implementation Guidelines
- Alaska Office of History and Archaeology Role in Spill Response
- Alaska – Geographic Response Strategies
- Alaska – Potential Places of Refuge
- Group Exercise
The workshop will be offered twice in Anchorage, first on October 29-31 and again on November 5-7. Each workshop will be limited to forty participants (see application for details). There is no charge for attending the Historic Properties Specialist Workshop. Note that there are three prerequisite courses (available free online).
2019 Alaska Historic Properties Specialist Workshop Application (click here to access application).
Please share with those that you think would be interested!