The Alaska Federation of Natives Convention is the biggest gathering of Alaska Natives in the state with over 3,500 visitors. The event took place for most of last week at the Carlson Center and the parking was as bad as any hockey game. The main purpose of the event is for the various native corporations, established in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971, to meet and delegate business that has come up over the past year.

But to summarize the AFN Convention is to limit how much of a big deal this event really is. Lining the hallways were various businesses, charities, information booths and snack shops. Big screen TV’s were dispersed throughout the building to ensure that everyone could see every lecture and speech. All week there were people giving speeches, taking votes, and giving awards. One of the most important awards was the Alaska Marketplace competition, which awarded money to dozens of submitted business plans that will hopefully strengthen the rural Alaskan economy.

A large crowd gatherer was the arts and crafts fair. This fair was the place to buy Native Alaskan art. Whether it’s ivory, whalebone, beaver fur, sea otter fur, parkas, honey, jewelry, ulus, T-shirts—the fair had all hand-crafted art from villages. Outside the main entrance, vendors sold smoked salmon and baleens. They even had naturally smokehouse smoked Yukon king salmon.

This is the second time the AFN Convention took place in Fairbanks. Previously, the event had occurred almost exclusively in Anchorage. 1988 and 2005 are the only other times the convention was held in Fairbanks. Under the new arrangement, the convention will be held alternately in Fairbanks and Anchorage, with other cities to be added onto the alternating roster.