Homer Alaska - Arts

Some people come for the food. Some come for the community. Some come for the stories, songs and dances. For everyone it's a chance for cultures to meet this weekend when the Pratt Museum sponsors the biennial Tamamta Katurlluta, A Gathering of Native Traditions — the English translation of the Suqpiaq phrase.

Tamamta Katurlluta starts from 5-7 p.m. Friday with a welcome reception at the Pratt Museum gallery and a chance for visitors to see "Inspiration: An Alaska Native Art Exhibition." Most of the events take place Saturday, starting with the traditional kayak landing and welcoming ceremony at 10 a.m. on the Homer Spit behind the Pier One Theater.

The kayak landing symbolizes the return of the fleet after a voyage or hunting. Modern and traditional kayaks are paddled up to the beach. New this year is an 18-person umiak built by the Ageya Wilderness Education School of Homer.

The kayak landing is typical of the spirit of Tamamta Katurlluta, said Ryjil Christianson, Pratt Museum director of education.

"It is about gathering. When people gather, they talk to one other. While they're waiting, they get to meet each other," she said. "That's what the Pratt tries to do — foster that atmosphere, that sharing of stories and sharing of cultures."

Inviting Native groups to share music, dance, food and culture with Homer has been a tradition since 1997, when Nick Tanape of Nanwalek had the idea of landing traditional Native kayaks on the Homer Spit. That grew into an annual and now an every-other-year celebration organized by the Pratt Museum and the Suqpiaq communities of Nanwalek, Port Graham and Seldovia. Tamamta Katurlluta also brings together the Kenaitze tribe, Dena'ina Athabascans of the greater Kenai Peninsula.

Saturday has plenty of opportunities for cultures to gather. At noon is a potluck lunch followed by sharing of stories by elders and storytelling by Jack Dalton of Anchorage. At 2 p.m. are Native Youth Olympic demonstrations and at 3 p.m. is a harbor seal educational presentation and biosampling demonstration by the Harbor Seal Commission. All those events take place at the Pratt and are free. The day ends with an evening of dance and culture at 7 p.m. at the Mariner Theatre. Tickets are $5 at the door, with children 12 and under admitted free.

The potluck lunch gives all cultures a chance to share food.

"One of my memories from all these gatherings is the trying of traditional foods and the learning that takes place from that," said Christianson.

She encouraged not just Native cultures, but other cultures to bring and share food.

"This year I'm going to harvest my last rhubarb and make my grandmother's traditional rhubarb sauce," Christianson said. "We all have our own cultural traditions. This is a real nurturing environment to reconnect with them."

Dalton is well known around Alaska as "The Storyteller," said Michelle Miller, Pratt director of development.

Born in Bethel and raised in Anchorage, Dalton's family comes from the Naparyarmiut, or Hooper Bay, region, and is considered an ambassador between Yup'ik and European cultures. He will be the emcee for the evening of dance and director of storytelling in the afternoon. Elders will be encouraged to tell stories — and as is the tradition of showing respect for elders, honored to speak first.

That's another Tamamta Katurlluta and Native tradition, Christianson.

"One of the things I treasure and have learned from these traditional cultures is the respect for elders," she said. "That's one of the things I love about this gathering. At the potluck, the crowd is asked to let the elders eat first and let them lead the way. That's one of the ways the small community can honor that tradition of respecting elders — make sure they have comfortable seats and are being listened to."

To expand cultural awareness, each Tamamta Katurlluta brings a Native performing group from outside the Kenai Peninsula. This year, the Tlingit and Haida Dancers of Anchorage do singing, dancing and drumming. Leader Hazel Tumulak will describe the significance of songs and stories before they are performed, Miller said.

"The songs and stories passed down through the generations through drumming and singing are considered clan property," Miller said. "Those who sing these songs must have special permission."

Christianson encouraged people to attend as many events as possible.

"I really hope to see the people move from the kayak landing on the Spit to the Pratt, to eat food, to get to know each other and talk," she said. "It will be a long day, but hopefully will be inspiring and engaging."

Michael Armstrong can be reached at michael.armstrong@homernews.com.