A group of 11 community members gathered on Jan. 21 to discuss and provide direction for how to use Wrangell Cooperative Association’s new carving facility, which was completed in October.
The facility’s completion was the second of three phases for cultural development being undertaken by WCA, beginning with the restoration of the tribal house on Chief Shakes Island in 2013 and to conclude with the future recarving of eight totem poles and the training of master crafters.
Among others, the planning group included members of the WCA Board, Tlingit elder Marge Bird, and representatives of the All-Wrangell Dancers group and Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 1.
The first discussion began after New Year’s, exploring the possibility of a number of different types of classes to be held at the facility, from craft skills such as ravens-tail weaving, carving, fur sewing and tanning, to larger-scale activities like canoe building and fish-smoking. Cultural courses were also desired, focusing on language, storytelling, drawing and intergenerational activities.
At the new building’s southeast corner, its retail store component would largely cater to tourists and visitors to the island, selling locally-designed clothing items, jewelry and gifts created at the facility.
Apryl Hutchinson also recommended offering nontraditional classes such as jarring and canning, giving adults something constructive to do in the evening.
Tis Peterman will be preparing grant applications for this next phase on behalf of WCA.
In finding funds to begin with, the group had to decide which of two federal grants it would pursue: the Sustainable Employment and Economic Development Strategies (SEEDS) or the Social and Economic Development Strategies for Alaska (SEDS-AK).
Both are funded through the Administration for Native Americans, but differ in scope.
SEEDS provides competitive grants to Native American communities across the United States and its Pacific territories in the areas of social and economic development, language preservation and maintenance, and environmental regulatory enhancement.
“They want jobs created,” Peterman explained. The grant would provide $500,000 over a five-year period, and could be used for economic development. “You have to prove you have sustainable jobs at the end,” she told the group.
SEDS-AK would be more focused on strengthening children, families and communities through community-based organizations, tribes and village governments. It would provide $300,000 over a three-year period to that end.
Peterman had previously submitted an application for a SEDS-AK grant before the facility had been built, and said the review had been favorable. She felt with the plan they were currently drafting that the carving facility would have a good chance of being selected for the grant this time. She told the group a rough draft could be available soon.
Both grants require a 20-percent funding match from program recipients. One of the questions Peterman said they should consider is which match the community would be better able to meet.
“I think SEDS would be the next logical step,” she said. It would be a more manageable amount of money to start out with, and would allow for economic and cultural programs they want to better develop before applying for the larger grant.
“By then we would be established,” explained Hutchinson.
After discussing matters, the group prompted Peterman to begin preparing an application for the SEDS-AK before its March submission deadline. They also set Feb. 4 as their next meeting date, at the rear of the carving facility at 4 p.m.
“We’d like to encourage everyone to show up,” said Peterman.
The meeting is open to the public at large; with the exception of handling sea otter pelts, she explained the classes and activities to be established at the facility will be open to all comers, Natives and non-Natives alike, and that ideas for development are welcome.
Reader Comments(0)