Voices of Séet Ká Kwáan

Chef Rob Kinneen talks with Janine Gibbons and Kari Petersen about the highlights of his career and his particular interest in sourcing locally and seasonally. He seeks to cook within the limitations of village life, place and lifestyle in mind. Rob is currently the Outreach Director for North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems (NĀTIFS) a non-profit that is dedicated to addressing economic and health crises that affect Native communities by re-establishing native foodways.

Annette Bennett and Jeanette Ness sit down to discuss the history and impact of the Séet Ká Kwáan Dancers. Jeanette is one of the founders of the dance group, and Annette participated from a young age and the two remain close.

Elder and Author, Diane Benson, discusses the meaning of stories and songs in Lingít culture. She shares some of her storytelling experience and a poem she wrote about that experience.

Ross Nannauck lll talks with Hannah Flor about his passion for creating Lingít art in a variety of mediums, and what that work has brought to his life. Ross was born and raised here in Séet Ká Kwáan and is also a longtime volunteer DJ at KFSK.

Mary Katasse-Miller talks with Debra O'Gara about traditional Lingit foodways. Mary is renowned for her legendary frybread that she sells during community events of all kinds, and her use of traditional Lingit foods.

Katherine Monahan interviews Debra O'Gara about her woven work on exhibition at the Clausen Museum in Petersburg for the annual Pride Show. Then Janine Gibbons interviews Evelyn Vanderhoop, renowned Haida weaver, about finding her way to weaving, and the ways that it enriches her life.

High School Coaches and brothers, Rick and Dino Brock, sit down with student player, Devon Guthrie, and Petersburg Indigenous Awareness Committee members, Diane Benson and Kari Petersen, to discuss the pride basketball brings to a community, the history of basketball in Southeast, and what basketball has brought to their lives. This episode of Voices of Séet Ká Kwáan was created from a Listening Project interview. The full interview can be heard at the Listening Project link below.

Join Debra O'Gara, Diane Benson, and Avery Herrman-Sakamoto on a harvesting trip for s'áxt' (aka devil's club). Learn about its traditional uses and how it's harvested.

Mary Anne Rainie talks with her grand-daughter Alyssa Guthrie about the regalia Mary Anne makes for graduating seniors, and how she hopes the regalia gives them a sense of pride in their culture.

In this excerpt from a Listening Project recorded in 2010 Amy Hallingstad's descendants discuss her civil rights activism and how she fought tirelessly for the rights of Indigenous People. Amy was a leader who worked on desegregating schools, voting rights, union formation, advocating for better healthcare for Indigenous people, and the Alaska Native Settlement Claims Act of 1971.

Ethelyn Lopez, Ray Dugaqua, and Will Ware share their experiences harvesting with their families in Lingít Aaní.

Billy, son of Will & Christie Ware, talks about being raised in the Tlingít tradition and what the values have brought to his way of being in the world.

Debra O'Gara talks about the relevance of May 5th, about tribal justice systems, and her hopes for the future. Debra is the Senior Policy Specialist for the Alaska Native Women's Resource Center and focuses on laws and policies concerning domestic violence and sexual assault for Alaska Natives.

Herring egg season is upon us! Avery Herrman-Sakamoto tags along as Nathan Lopez delivers the much anticipated fresh herring eggs to local elders.

Nathan Lopez discusses his love of herring eggs, their cultural significance, and how they are traditionally harvested, prepared and eaten.

Debra O'Gara and Nicole Hallingstad discuss the meaning of cultural connection to the land and how that connection creates belonging. They also discuss resilience and adaptability moving forward in our modern age.

Avery Herrman-Sakamoto talks with Brenda Louise & Jeanette Ness about the long journey of arriving at pride in their Lingít heritage and the rewards of community, belonging, and knowing thyself.

Diane Benson talks about the formation of the Petersburg Indigenous Awareness Committee. Avery Herrman-Sakamoto, Brenda Louise, and Jeanette Ness discuss Lingít Aaní, Indigenous land, and what it means to be Indigenous.

Naomi Michelsen, Kaasei (Tlingít) is Wooshkeetaan, Eagle/Wolf belonging to the Shark House of Berners Bay, Alaska. In this episode Naomi discusses respectful harvesting guidelines for traditional gathering on Tlingít Aaní. Naomi grew up in Petersburg and now lives in Ketchikan. She is the owner of Kaasei Training & Consulting, a business she started to inspire people to appreciate Indigenous foods, plants, and people. She believes in the power of culture as prevention, intervention, and healing.

Jeanette Ness discusses the name Séet Ká Kwáan, People of the Fast Moving Waters. Diane Benson talks about the meaning behind the tagline, “sharing our stories is good medicine for us all.”

This song was written September 2021 for the Native community of Petersburg by Diane L՛xeis' Benson, of the T՛akdeintaan Clan for the purposes of bringing people together in good spirit. My gratitude and appreciation for the early assistance of Jeanette Ness.