In 2025, The Aleut International Association expanded our role as advocates for the preservation and revitalization of Unangax̂ (Aleut) environmental and cultural practices, including: land stewardship, language, art and Unangax̂ craftsmanship. Specifically, we supported and contributed to Unangax̂ intergenerational Indigenous Knowledge sharing. We achieved this goal through: (1) participating in and instructing at the 25th Annual Qagan Tayagungin Tribe’s Culture Camp in Sand Point, Alaska, and (2) production of a video-interview series about Unangax̂ cultural Practices and land stewardship, featuring ten Unangax̂ Elders and culture bearers from across the Aleutian and Pribilof region.

1: The 25th Annual Qagan Tayagungin Tribe’s Culture Camp in Sand Point, Alaska

In remote and rural Alaskan communities like Sand Point, circumstances like out-migration and high travel costs in and out of the locality pose significant challenges to holding traditional gatherings. These gatherings were essential for sharing Aleut cultural practices and passing them down to the next generation. Nowadays, such gatherings have been reorganized into annual culture camps, ensuring Unangax̂ cultural continuity through 1-2 weeks’ worth of hands-on educational activities.

The 25th Annual Qagan Tayagungin Tribe’s Culture Camp in Sand Point was a special event as it included local community members from three different Unangax̂ tribal governments (Pauloff Harbor, Unga and Qagan Tayagungin) as well as Unangax̂ knowledge holders, descendents and tribal citizens from many parts of Alaska. Youth, elders, and all in between came together for eleven days of cultural programming, exchanging knowledge and learning new skills all while celebrating the beauty of Unangax̂ culture and recognizing the shared responsibility of Unangax̂ to preserve our way of life. We discussed Unangax̂ methods of biodiversity conservation, traditional food preparation, subsistence knowledge, and practiced cultural art forms, including: skin-sewing, regalia-making, basket-weaving, bentwood visor-making, beading and more. There were also Unangam Tunuu (Aleut Language) learning sessions to encourage language use among younger generations.

AIA taught a workshop on traditional animal skin-sewing. Participants in our workshop made seal fur purses, pouches, and yo-yos. Some of them had never held a needle before the workshop, but by the end were excited about all they could do in the future with these newly developed skills.

The diversity of instructors, organizers, and attendees made it a great entry point for AIA to strengthen our relationship with our tribes and grow in our cultural advocacy work. By the end of the program, we felt better connected to the communities we serve in an international capacity and developed a stronger understanding of what we can do to support Aleut cultural initiatives on the Arctic international stage.

You can view the videos put together highlighting our time at culture camp:

• 25th Annual Qagan Tayagungin Tribe’s Culture Camp 2025 Video
• 25th Annual Qagan Tayagungin Tribe’s Culture Camp 2025 Slideshow

2: Unangax̂ (Aleut) Cultural Practices & Cultural Land Stewardship Interview Series

Unangax̂ Elders and culture bearers’ stories, experiences, and traditional knowledge of Unangax̂ cultural practices and land stewardship are invaluable resources for listeners of every age from all backgrounds. These individuals have the distinct ability to weave past, present, and future together through their wisdom to promote stewardship of land, culture, community, and spirit. Through a video-interview series on Unangax̂ traditional land stewardship and protection management, featuring ten Unangax̂ Elders and culture bearers from across the Aleutians and Pribilof region, the Aleut International Association is increasing the visibility of Indigenous Knowledge at regional and international levels. In the long term, it is our hope that by making this kind of media available, it will support Indigenous Knowledge practices and promote the inclusion of Indigenous Knowledge in management planning.

The individuals interviewed for this series, include:

• Theresa Baker, Aleut Community of St. Paul Island Tribal Government
• Destiny Bristol Kushin, Aleut Community of St. Paul Island Tribal Government
• Okalena Patricia Lekanoff Gregory, Qawalangan Tribe of Unalaska
• Platonida Lekanoff, Aleut Community of St. Paul Island Tribal Government
• Marvin Phillip Lestenkof, Aleut Community of St. Paul Island Tribal Government
• Amos Philemonoff, Aleut Community of St. Paul Island Tribal Government
• Garrett Pletnikoff, Aleut Community of St. Paul Island Tribal Government

You can watch this interview series on our Vimeo page.

All aspects of this project were approached with respect for Aleut culture, open communication with project participants and local tribal councils, as well as free, prior and informed consent.

Aleut International Association would like to thank Qagan Tayagungin Tribe for welcoming our staff as instructors. We valued our time spent with you and appreciate the opportunity to share our knowledge and to learn from you!

This project is funded by the PAWANKA Fund: the Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Learning Fund.