Alaskan Program Schedule on KUAC-TV Alaska One

Submitted by Carole Chambers
Phone: 474-5036
08/08/02

Special line-up of Alaskan shows scheduled for August 12 - 18 on KUAC-TV Alaska One, PBS. Several programs will be of great interest to our local Native community, in particular the program on Old Minto: "MERGING DESTINIES: An Understanding of Culture," and also "ATHABASCAN FIDDLERS FESTIVAL."

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ALEUTIANS: CRADLE OF THE STORMS
Parts 1 & 2
The 9,000-year old culture of the Native Aleuts evolved on the storm-lashed archipelago. Explore impact of the arrival of Russians, Americans and WWII. Aug. 12 and 13 at 8 p.m.

TO BE OF USE: The Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Aide Program
In 1969, a community health care system was established in western Alaska that has become a model for rural health care. August 12 at 10:30 p.m.

IMPERILED OTTERS OF THE ALEUTIANS
Aleutian otters are on the brink of extinction. Explore possible causes for the decline. August 13 at 9 p.m.

MERGING DESTINIES: An Understanding of Culture
Visit Old Minto, an Athabascan Village, to learn of traditional ways of Native Alaskans. August 13 at 9:30 p.m.

MORE INFO:
"Merging Destinies: An Understanding of Culture" tells the story of how people from modern communities visit Old Minto, an Athabascan Village in Alaska, to understand the traditional ways from Native Alaskans. Old Minto is located 30 miles down the Tanana river from Nenana, Alaska and was originally settled in 1912 by Athabascan Indians. In 1971, the village was relocated to a new site on the Tolovana River. Residents of the village still retain a strong emotional and spiritual attachment to the Old Minto site. Robert Charlie, born and raised in Old Minto, acted to preserve it as a traditional, historical Athabascan village. "In saving Old Minto, I wanted to preserve Athabascan cultural values and educate the general public." In 1984, Robert Charlie founded the Cultural Heritage and Education Institute to restore Old Minto and to educate people about the Athabascan "ways of knowing." Merging Destinies is a journey back in time and forward into the future in order to understand the merging of cultures.

CAMAI DANCE FESTIVAL 2001
Highlights from the Camai Dance Festival, a Native cultural festival held every spring in Bethel. August 13 aat 10 p.m.

NORMAL FOR US: The Miller Twins
Set in Soldotna, a deeply inspiring story of a family’s love and their determination in the face of challenge. August 14 at 8 p.m. Repeats Aug. 18 at 1:30 p.m.

LIVING EDENS GLACIER BAY: Alaska’s Wild Coast Glacier Bay is a wild paradise of ocean and ice. August 14 at 9 p.m. Repeats Aug. 18 at 2:30 p.m.

ATHABASCAN FIDDLERS FESTIVAL
The Athabascan Old-Time Fiddlers Festival started in Fairbanks in 1983 and has become a major cultural event. August 15 at 8 p.m.

MORE INFO:
"Athabascan Fiddlers Festival" - The fiddle was introduced to the Athabascan Indians of Interior Alaska by the French and Arcadian fur trappers over 100 hundred years ago. The Indians took to the music and began improvising on the traditional jigs and reels and other tunes common to those days. Athabascan music was traditionally played to accompany dance, potlatches and holiday celebrations. The result is entertaining music and one of Native Alaskan’s richest musical traditions. The Athabascan Old-Time Fiddlers Festival started in Fairbanks Alaska in 1983 to celebrate and preserve this tradition. Now a four-day celebration, the festival has become a major cultural event for the people of the interior while it encourages people to continue to teach and practice old time fiddling in the villages and in schools.

NO LOITERING
An intimate portrait of Alaskan teenagers trying to understand their world and its possibilities. August 15 at 9 p.m.

CELEBRATING ALASKA’S SHOREBIRDS
Each spring, millions of migratory birds make the arduous journey north for the breeding season. August 16 at 9 p.m.

For more information, go to http://www.alaskaone.org.