Special Activities
Cultural Knowledge of Native Elders
An academic centerpiece of the Alaska Native Studies B.A. is its Elders-in-Residence program. Prominent tradition bearers from the Native community are invited to reside on the Fairbanks campus for extended periods each semester. Under the direction of Native Studies faculty, students enrolled in ANS 401 receive direct instruction from these distinguished elders. The course is designed to maximize student-elder contact inside and outside the classroom to learn about Native life, past and present.
Festival of Native Arts
Each year UAF Native students organize a 3-day cultural celebration, inviting Native dance groups, artists, and craftsmen from all regions of the state. The Festival remains one of the largest Native cultural events to take place on an annual basis. Its purposes are (a) to provide students with an educational experience in organizing large-scale events, (b) to provide student with an opportunity to learn firsthand the rich diversity of living Native cultural traditions as seen through various art forms, (c) to promote and encourage the artistic expression of Native heritages, and (d) to provide a forum for greater public understanding of Native cultural traditions and values.